Five-star tucker? Or grub to snub?

Clough Manor at Denshaw gained five stars under the new rating system. Head chef Nigel Skinkiss celebrates with Councillor Mark Alcock (left, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, and Graham Boundy, the council’s environmental health manager.

A NEW star-rating system will shame eating establishments with poor cleanliness standards.

Oldham Council’s long-awaited Scores on the Doors food hygiene scheme has been launched to allow residents to check if their local restaurant, pub or takeaway is up to scratch.

The hygiene and safety standards of most food businesses in Oldham will be available on the council’s website from today as part of its push to improve food hygiene.

A business’s performance will be shown by a star rating — no stars for very poor through to five stars for excellent — effectively praising the best and naming and shaming the worst.

They will be based on the findings of the latest food hygiene inspection conducted by the environmental health service.

Restaurants, pubs, takeaways, cafés and supermarkets are covered but low-risk premises such as sweet shops won’t feature because their checks do not involve a formal inspection.

The inspections rate areas such as hygiene, cleanliness, layout, condition of structure, ventilation and confidence in the management of food laws.

Plans for the scheme received a mixed reaction from the borough’s food businesses when they were announced last year.

Some said they would help maintain high standards but others feared premises using ready-made food would get high scores with little effort.

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for the environment and infrastructure, launched the scheme at Denshaw’s Clough Manor Hotel — which gained a five-star rating.

He said: “We know from previous consultation that 97 per cent of residents would like to see food hygiene information made public. I am pleased to say this has been acted upon.

“The initiative, supported by the Food Standards Agency, will give members of the public as much information as possible about the hygiene standards so they can make informed decisions about where to eat or shop.

“Scores on the Doors will also offer those businesses that are already achieving high standards the recognition they deserve, while underperforming businesses will be given the incentive to improve.”

Businesses will also be given a certificate indicating their star rating which they can display on the premises.

Latest inspection reports: www.oldham.gov.uk/food-safety


No score on the door

RESTAURANTS, takeaways and caterers which gained no stars under the new scoring system:

Take A Break Takeaway, Lees Road, Oldham; Wing Wah, High Street, Lees; Mamma’s Pizza, Glodwick Road, Oldham; Oldham Filling Station, Featherstall Road North, Oldham; Crazy Fast Foods, Greensway Shopping Centre, Milnrow Road, Shaw; Al Wasl, Yorkshire Street, Oldham; A M Foodstores, Manley Road, Oldham.

Top Shop Grocers , Fraser Street, Shaw; Villa General Store, Villa Road, Oldham; Kashmir Superstore, Waterloo Street, Oldham; Ashton’s Snax Bar, Ashton Road West, Failsworth; Old Grey Mare, Oldham Road, Royton; Halfway House, Rochdale Road, Royton; Halal Inn, Featherstall Road South, Oldham; Mya Restaurant and Takeaway, Featherstall Road North, Oldham.

The Middle Eastern Restaurant, Yorkshire Street, Oldham; Indian 2 Night, Lees Road, Oldham; Essence of Asia, Huddersfield Road, Austerlands; Kashmir Karahi, Ashton Road, Oldham; Chilli, Huddersfield Road, Oldham; Rajas Pizza Bar, Union Street, Oldham; Al Bilal Cafe, Pitt Street, Oldham.

JA Greenwood Ltd, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield; Century City, Middleton Road, Oldham; Chop Suey House, Rochdale Road, Shaw; Zeera Exotic Bangladeshi Takeaway, Royley, Royton; The Butty Box, Ripponden Road, Oldham.

Kebab Stop, Yorkshire Street, Oldham; Godfather Kebab House, Union Street, Oldham;, J Clark - Fruit & Vegetable, Market Hall, Oldham; Top Sweet House, Manchester Road, Oldham; Beer and Wine Shop, Greenwood Street, Oldham; Medina Cash and Carry, Pitt Street, Oldham.