Ipswich Borough Council forced to give council-run Corn Exchange one star food hygiene rating
Corn exchange Ipswich
Ipswich Borough Council was left red-faced after being forced to give one of its own establishments a one-star food hygiene rating, it has been revealed.
A Food Standards Agency ‘scores on the door’ visit to the council-run Corn Exchange venue in King Street found a handful of issues which did not meet safety standards.
The one star rating, which relates to the establishment’s pop-up bar and its service as a private venue for hire, signifies that major improvements are necessary.
The report from the inspection, which took place in March, said: “You are preparing food for six buffets a year for approximately 30 people. You must have a documented food safety management system.”
The report also highlighted that “there are no handwashing facilities at the temporary bars” and “you must ensure you comply with the new allergens requirements”.
The rating only affects the Corn Exchange venue, and not the Town Hall cafe, which has a five-star rating, or Ipswich Film Theatre, which does not provide food or drink.
A spokesman for the authority stressed that a safety management plan was now in place, as well as mobile handbasins at the temporary bars used for concerts and performances.
Most Read
- 1 Man 'punched and slashed' in serious assault in car park at Ipswich B&M
- 2 Ellie uses 4 tonne truck to make impressive entrance at school prom
- 3 Ipswich firm admits mis-selling foam loft insulation to Suffolk customers
- 4 'Fantastic opportunity' as Ipswich's Thomas Wolsey pub listed for sale
- 5 Burger van owner's anger after thieves steal food from trailer in Ipswich
- 6 New restaurant could be coming to the Waterfront, but theatre plans dropped
- 7 5 award-winning restaurants in and around Ipswich you need to visit
- 8 23-year-old Felixstowe woman pleads guilty to assault
- 9 Search ongoing for 29-year-old Suffolk man missing for three weeks
- 10 Travellers remain at Ipswich park after arrival last week
The spokesman added: “We want to make it clear that this is not related to the excellent café in the Town Hall (which has a five-star rating) or to the Film Theatre.
“It concerns the other facilities in the Corn Exchange – a lack of hand basins for staff working on our mobile bars and a lack of required paperwork following recent changes.
“We have been addressing both issues and are confident that a re-assessment this summer will lead to a much improved rating.
“We take this issue very seriously and it demonstrates that we investigate our own premises as thoroughly as we do anyone else’s.”
