PREVIOUSLY unseen reports have granted an alarming insight into the grimy details of the district’s cafes, restaurants and pubs.
Filthy floors, out-of-date food and clueless staff are among the problems highlighted in hygiene inspection reports released to The Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act this week.
Of the 757 Epping Forest businesses currently rated by the Food Standards Agency, just eight have been branded with its lowest ‘zero’ star rating.
The Merry Fiddlers pub, in Fiddlers Hamlet, Epping, was inspected on May 9 and found to be ‘a very very poor premises with major lack of food hygiene training, knowledge, understanding and general appreciation for food’.
The premises were found to be ‘dirty throughout’ and issues identified for checking at the next inspection were ‘everything’.
The inspector also noted that: “The chefs have left and the licensee Roy who has no idea has decided to do the cooking.”
But landlord Roy James, 60, said the inspector had since revisited and been impressed by improvements in the kitchen.
“People have come in and they’ve scrubbed it from top to bottom. We have got chefs in now and my wife’s doing the cooking now. On Saturdays and Sundays we have a chef who’s worked with Gary Rhodes.
“My wife is adamant she’s going to get us five stars,” he added.
Staff at the Swan Chinese Restaurant, in Epping High Street, were ‘not washing hands [...] nor using any antibacterial soap’.
Visiting the business on May 24, the inspector found the kitchen floor to be ‘filthy greasy dirty’ and that ‘no cleaning is being carried out’.
He concluded: “Very poor premises no confidence in staff or management.”
The Guardian contacted the Swan’s owner, but he did not wish to comment.
Bosworths Catering, based at Chigwell Golf Club, also failed to impress. An inspector who toured the premises on January 10 found food handlers had ‘no evidence and support of food hygiene training’.
He also noted ‘serious concerns’ about dirty equipment and cross-contamination risks, adding: “Absolutely devoid of any information, really poor.”
Golf club general manager Colin Hughes said Bosworths’ contract had since been terminated – partially because of the rating.
He said: “We took remedial action immediately and implemented all the changes required, including conducting a deep clean.”
At Perfect Choice, in Borders Lane, Loughton, an inspection on May 12 revealed ‘no cleaning‘ and visual pest checks ‘allegedly’ carried out by the manager.
He also noted ‘many foods were found to be past their use by dates’ and ‘a build up of grease and grime’.
Manager Shabul Uddin, 31, said the issues had now all been solved.
He said: “We lost quite a lot of customers, but we did change everything when he gave us zero. After three weeks he came back and he was very happy and said everything’s perfect.”
Businesses with zero stars are:
- Bosworths Catering, High Road, Chigwell
- The Green Man, Toot Hill, Ongar (since under new ownership and no longer serves food prepared on-site)
- Sprays Bakery, Lambourne Road, Chigwell
- Perfect Choice, Borders Lane, Loughton
- The Merry Fiddlers, Fiddlers Hamlet, Epping
- The Swan Chinese Restaurant, High Street, Epping
- The Royal Oak, Forest Road, Loughton
- Bengal Lancers, High Street, Roydon
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel