The Brewery Tap in Cliff Lane is the only food outlet in Ipswich to receive zero stars out of five following a visit by food hygiene inspectors.
In total there are 1,031 establishments serving food in the town from schools and nurseries to pubs and restaurants and the majority – 732 – got the full five stars for cleanliness, hygiene and food management.
Inspectors visited The Brewery Tap in Cliff Lane in December and gave it a zero rating – which means it needs to urgently improve.
The ranking suggests major improvements need to be made to the hygiene, cleanliness and management of food at the pub to meet guidelines set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Safety officers from Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) routinely visit all registered food businesses in the town, and results are published online as well as being displayed at the venues.
Ratings range from zero to five and while a zero rating, which means ‘urgent’ improvements are needed, can shut an outlet down, a one means major improvement is required.
Brewery Tap manager Mike Keen said the main concern was a vac pack machine which was used for both raw and cooked food.
He said: “We have now got rid of the machine. We’ve also overhauled the management procedures which did not meet their recommendations.
“We are being re-inspected soon and I think we should get a four, which is great news.”
A total of 31 Ipswich food outlets currently have a one-star rating, with 23 of those handed down in the last year.
K Bar and Grill in St Nicholas Street was handed a one-star after failing to meet hygiene, cleanliness and management criteria.
The popular bistro joins facilities such as Ipswich Private Kindergarten which received one star for management issues only, which can include paperwork, and the Grand Old Duke of York pub.
K Bar and Grill owner Charlotte Everitt said she believed the rating was given to them due to maintenance issues such as flooring, but did not want to comment further as she claims inspectors are expected to re-rate the premises as a four next week.
The one-star rating came after a visit May last year.
Ipswich Private Kindergarten manager Jacqui Mayes said safety officers have been round this week to re-inspect after finding issues with the paperwork.
She hopes the new rating will be higher.
“We are disappointed with the one star but were told it was due to food management,” she said.
“We’ve now improved the way we deal with it and are looking forward to getting a new rating soon.”
And the Grand Old Duke of York manager Debbie Blacker said the pub was not registered to serve food full time at the time of the inspection.
“We only do roasts on a Sunday and the food safety measures paperwork was not in place,” she said. They said the kitchens were okay and now they are fully open we’re hoping to get a better one next time.”
An IBC spokesman said: “When planning your special meal out, make sure you check the hygiene ratings online and choose a restaurant that takes food hygiene seriously. For local food businesses a good food hygiene rating is something to be proud of. It matters to customers so we are encouraging all businesses in Ipswich to display their rating.”
The following food premises scored a one rating as of January 18, 2017
Artizan, Silent Street
Asian & Afro Ent Ltd, Carr Street
Black Horse Inn, Black Horse Lane
Brothers Butchery Ltd, Brunswick Road
City Grill, Upper Orwell Street
Daily Fresh, Norwich Road
Fishers Butchers, Garrick Way
Golden Ship Inn, Cliff Road
Hussain Brothers, Nacton Road
Indian Palace, Upper Orwell Street
Ipswich Food Centre, Chevallier Street
Ipswich Private Kindergarten, Woodbridge Road
Jade Village, Cambridge Drive
JSK Supermarket, Spring Road
K Bar and Grill, St Nicholas Street
Kenny’s Cafe, Nacton Road
Mamma Mia, Clapgate Lane
Mr Soft, Private address
My Keralam South Indian Restaurant, St Helens Street
Norbridge Social Club, Norwich Road
Oriental Gourmet, Woodbridge Road
Petrogas Applegreen Heath, Woodbridge Road East
Pick N Pay, Queens Way
Poundworld, Tavern Street
Sands Refreshments, Bourne Bridge Link Road
SCFWA Lunch Club, The Manor Ballroom St Margarets Green
Suffolk Halal, Norwich Road
Sunrise Cafe, St Matthews Street
Sydney Mini Market, St Helens Street
The Grand Old Duke of York, Woodbridge Road
The Station Hotel, Burrell Road
There can be a delay between inspections taking place and ratings being posted on the FSA’s website. The information in the searchable table is correct as of January 20, 2017.
Some of the businesses named may have since closed or changed ownership. Others are yet to be inspected and a small number are considered “exempt”, such as those not generally considered to be food businesses.
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