Food standards ratings are not only important to businesses, but to customers, too. The results of the latest inspections have been released, with mixed ratings for firms in the area. Dan Russell reports.
FIVE STARS: A new sandwich deli is proving to be a cut above the rest.
Brian Taylor, the owner of Wendy's Deli & Coffee, in Pyewipe Place, on Estate Road Three, Grimsby, said achieving the top five-star food hygiene rating was "easy" because cleanliness is part of their daily routine.
Mr Taylor, 47, of Waltham, opened the café due to the popularity of their two sandwich vans.
"After a couple of months of opening, we had an inspector round to conduct a rating," he said.
"They checked on food handling, quality of the building and the paperwork of the business."
The business's name of Wendy came about when Mr Taylor was working as a joiner inside his garage at home, and his children would help pass him the tools.
He named his little helpers Wendy, after the animated children's character in Bob The Builder.
He said: "Everyone wonders who Wendy is, but she doesn't exist, really! My seven full-time staff and two part-time workers all get called Wendy too, which is quite amusing.
"I am currently looking to take on a couple of apprentices, because I am buying another £47,000 sandwich van that will supply large businesses further afield."
Mr Taylor's two travelling food vans have also received the top score.
And his success in the ratings scheme, organised by the Food Standards Agency and North East Lincolnshire Council, is mirrored at other kitchens in the area.
FIVE STARS: The manager of a Cleethorpes takeaway is thrilled after achieving a five-star rating just six months after opening.
Pizza One, in Alexandra Road in the resort, has received the top hygiene rating after being visited by North East Lincolnshire Council's inspectors for the first time.
Manager Abdulfattah Albarq said he "couldn't be happier" to receive the rating – the highest a food outlet can get – after opening the business with his brother just six months ago.
"It was a little bit nerve-racking but I just told my staff to do what they normally do and the inspector obviously approved," he said.
Pizza One is the first restaurant Mr Albarq has run. However, he has a background in working in kitchens in care homes and hospitals. He says that these environments taught him the importance of hygiene.
"As a restaurant owner, you have to realise that you have other people's lives in your hands. In older people's homes, food poisoning can be very dangerous," he said.
"When we first bought the premises, it was in really bad shape, but we spent thousands on changing almost everything in there.
"It took a lot of work, but we would never have opened it until we though it was ready.
"We stay open until 1.30am, and even 2am on some nights, but no matter what time it is, we make sure that the kitchen is spotless before we leave. At the end of the day, our kitchen looks exactly as it did at the beginning.
"It's not always easy when you close so late at night, but we are very strict on that rule and everyone here knows how important it is.
"We have customers who come back regularly and a lot of weekend trade, but we hope for improvement. Now we have our five-star rating, I hope more people will come and try our food – they are most welcome."
FIVE STARS: Baked bread and fresh salad is the recipe for success for a kitchen serving a Grimsby school.
Havelock Academy has achieved a five-star rating for its kitchen, which serves both staff and pupils.
All food is prepared fresh by the kitchen staff, who bake their own bread and pizza bases.
Catering manager Margaret Moore said: "The school offers much more than the traditional school dinners.
"We have two hot serving counters, a fresh salad bar and handmade sandwiches and baguettes.
"We make everything fresh. We make all our pizza bases and we bake our own bread."
Head teacher Phil Burdass said the award showcases the hard work of the catering staff.
"We are very proud to receive the award," he said.
"It shows the hard work of the ladies in the kitchen who provide staff and pupils with exciting, healthy and nutritious meals."
FIVE STARS: The Lincolnshire Montessori nursery, in Stallingborough, secured a five-star rating. Director Sylvia Fields said: "Our catering team, Debbie and Penny, are to be congratulated for the rigour with which they maintain the nursery kitchen and equipment.
"From routines to menu planning, they are professional, thorough and committed.
"Healthy food plays a large part in nursery life and we see meal times as happy, social occasions where children share a hot, nutritious meal with their friends.
"Our food policy was also acknowledged by the Child Food Trust earlier this year when we piloted its Eat Better, Start Better nutritional guidelines for nurseries. We feel we are playing a significant role in laying down the foundations for life-long healthy eating."
FIVE STARS: Indian restaurant Mitu's, located in the former Laceby Arms pub, is celebrating achieving a five-star rating.
Owner Mitu Ahmed said: "When you are in the restaurant, you can see into the kitchen and watch us cook and handle food."
ONE STAR: The Zakaria Convenience Store, in Freeman Street, Grimsby, scored one, which has disappointed owner Heymn Kaladzay.
"Our score was less than expected," he said. "We did have some things in the shop that were out-of-date.
"We have taken on board the comments and made some changes."
ONE STAR: Another score of one was given to the Tivoli Tavern, in Grimsby's Old Market Place.
Manager Iain Oaten said: "I have taken over since the last inspection and I have raised the standard considerably.
"Everything is cleaned down and is just as it should be. I would welcome an inspector at any time."
TWO STARS: Stijepo Stuck, the owner of Littlefields Restaurant, in Littlefield Lane, Grimsby, said failing to keep up with paperwork was the reason for the restaurant's initial one-star rating.
He insisted that the restaurant was hygienic but understood why inspectors had rated it so.
"Before, I didn't grasp how important the paperwork is and keeping it up-to-date," he said, explaining that although the kitchen was always cleaned properly, this was not always recorded on paper.
Fridge and meat temperatures have always been recorded, he continued.
"They are being fair to me. We do have to do more paperwork than we used to but it is important," he said.
"If something happens and you do not have the paperwork to show that you have done everything correctly then you have a problem."
He told that the restaurant had been given two stars at a subsequent inspection about a month ago, and that he intended to apply for a further inspection to be carried out in December.
"Everything is now in place and we are improving," he said. "All the paperwork is now in order."
ONE STAR: The Grange Community Centre, in Carnforth, Crescent, Grimsby, has new leaseholders who took over on June 1. The centre was last inspected in January, on which its one-star score is based.
Spokesman Paul Colvin said: "We have made a lot of changes since we took over and we are, hopefully, replacing the kitchen to bring the food hygiene standards up-to-date."
ONE STAR: The Spar store, in Legsby Avenue, is working to improve its one-star rating.
A spokesman for Spar said: "Spar takes Food Standards Agency scores extremely seriously.
"We will be working closely with the retailer in order to improve its standards to the high levels we expect and significantly improve its score by the next inspection."
ONE STAR: Me2Raj, in Market Street, Cleethorpes, admitted having "some problems".
Manager Azizul Islam said: "Our kitchen water pipe was broken and it made the kitchen floor rot, which has now been fixed.
"We have made all the changes we were advised and next time, we will do better."
ONE STAR: Dave Snook, the owner of the No 1 Refreshment Rooms, in Station Approach, Cleethorpes, criticised the ratings system.
He said: "We are working very hard to improve but it is unfair that a newsagent can get five stars for selling food out of a fridge and a restaurant that is really good can get lower.
"I think there should be a separate system for shops. Restaurants are getting done over by the system.
"We have had some problems but we have now improved everything."
ONE STAR: Paperwork getting out of hand was the cause of the low rating for the Agrah, in Sea View Street, Cleethorpes.
Manager Kamal Ahmad said: "Since the inspection, we have already improved and we are waiting to be revisited."
FIVE STARS: A low rating is not always bad news – the Shires Restaurant, in Waltham, has gone from a zero score to five – the highest possible.
The premises is currently on the market with Pygott and Crone for £195,000.
Owner John Cribb said: "At the time of the first inspection, we were refurbishing the kitchen.
"We were still open, but we were also trying to get the jobs done because we didn't want to close. In hindsight, we should have closed.
"Since that inspection we have finished the refurbishment and our food hygiene is now immaculate."
• The Chelmsford Chinese Takeaway, in Chelmsford Avenue, Grimsby, currently doesn't have a rating as it was last inspected in 2011 and has also changed hands.
Owner Yuk Lan Wong said: "I make sure everything is clean and it is much better than it was before.
"The staff here clean every day. The next time the inspector comes, we will be ready – and they can come anytime."
• The following businesses declined to comment on their one-star hygiene rating: Masala Indian Cuisine, in Victoria Street, Grimsby; Pizza House, in Littlecoates Road, Grimsby; and Wellowgate News, in Wellowgate, Grimsby.
At Pizza Uno, in Grimsby Road, Humberston, After Dark, in Sea Road, Cleethorpes, and Lifestyle Express, in Pasture Street, Grimsby, no one was available for comment.
At the time of publishing, the Grimsby Telegraph was unable to get in contact with the owners of the Paprika Tandoori Takeaway, in Laceby Road, Grimsby.
To find out more about the about the food hygiene scheme, visit the North-East Lincolnshire Council website and
