A Lichfield restaurant has been told to improve after earning a zero rating in its latest food hygiene inspection.
Panache, which specialises in Indian cuisine, was visited by inspectors from Lichfield District Council in March who gave it the lowest rating, meaning it is classified as “urgent improvement necessary”.
The owners of the Walsall Road restaurant were given 27 areas where they needed to improve in order to meet legal requirements. These include no longer disposing of cooking oil in a nearby field and using a suitable tool to apply ghee to foods after inspectors found a “damaged paint brush” was being used instead.
They were also warned to fix a faulty boiler and stop using a piece of lit paper to ignite their tandoori oven.
No-one from Panache, which describes itself as “much more than just an Indian restaurant” on its website, was available for comment.
The full inspection report can be viewed on the RateMyPlace website.
bloomin heck, do you know how bad it is to get zero ? I wouldn’t choose to eat in a 2 let alone a zero. For a place that size there’s absolutely no reason for it not to have a 5 rating.
By the way they’re not stars
That’s correct – we got confused because they used to be stars! Thanks for reminding us.
I only know becuase i’ve looked up the list on line. I dunno what they are now, plates, burgers , tea bags. Something round.
Mc Donalds manages 5 . I’d like to know what the criteria is for getting 5 and how difficult it is to achieve.
There’s a list on line of almost every eating establishment with its rating. It’s quite interesting how low some places are that you think would be quite good. Posh hotel restaurants getting 2 ratings.
Crikey, We go or should I say went there a quite a bit.
That is alarming a zero rating is going to take a lot of pulling up of socks to get
people using the place again.
Just proves what an absolutely invaluable job LDC do on it. Too many complacent owners, too eager to save money by cutting basics.
As i said most fast food places are only a 1 or a 2, you’ll struggle to find a chinese or indian that above that. They’re still safe. They’re just not as well equipped as Mc donalds and closer to being unsafe. There’s nothing to say that a 2 will ever actually be unsafe. It may just be because of a lack of space. That they’ve not room for two fridges, or two prep areas. I wouldn’t choose to eat in a two but do if that’s all that’s available after a night on the town.
What i mean is don’t boycott local businesses that are perfectly safe just because of low rating. There may be a reason for it. I don’t see a reason why this one is so low though. Its not exactly a small shop.
There you go, have a look at that .
http://ratings.food.gov.uk/search-a-local-authority-area/en-GB/West%2bMidlands
The exact details of why this business scores so low can be read on
http://www.ratemyplace.org.uk/inspections/panache-lichfield
Lichfield District Council publishes the report that judges the rating.
This applies to all food businesses
I don’t know how they’re getting away with that. I think the exact details of a report shouldn’t be made public, surely thats against data protection rules.
anyway, obviously from that its mainly the lack of cleaning.
Jozef, I can assure you its all legal and within current legislation. Don’t you think the public should see reports on how clean a food business is or not.
No more so than ever after the horse meat scandals. Its an important area of public safety and where appropriate , and certainly in relation to food premises , yes the reports should be made public so the consumer can both see the cleanliness of the establishment and also make an informed choice about how and where they consume food.
If an outbreak of food poisoning or other food related illness occurred people would be demanding why they were not informed.
A good well run business would be proud , a poorly run business would be shamed . The answer is very simple, don’t risk peoples lives and well being by taking risks with food and your customers
No I don’t. Reports are for the Food Standards agency to complete and should be private. That restaurant could rectify ALL of those issues and become a 5 listing next week, however those pdfs are now in the public domain with nothing to say they’re no longer relevant.
All that matters to us the public is the start rating that can be updated as when as is appropriate, giving an accurate score of that restaurant at that time. A score that once updated replaces past scores. This is why I always link to the food standards agency site. It gives the last rating.
This sort of witch hunt is what permanently ruins businesses and stops them recovering from bad staff and management.
even though its not a star rating
Or are you saying that you can’t make an informed decision from a 0 to 5 rating of weather to eat there or not, a rating that is clearly listed on the Food Agency site and in shop windows. That you need a list of 27 areas to decide .
perhaps we need a list comparison page on that site too, so we can decide if we go to the 0 place where they don’t wash their hands or the 0 place where they don’t separate raw food.
27 areas to confuse, 27 areas to make your own mind up on their meaning and relevance , 27 areas to be out of date.
Or 5 that are quick, simple, up to date.
As a former Chairman of Environmental Health on two district councils I ALWAYS check the Hygiene Rating before visiting any eating establishment. Believe me if the photos that Environmental Health Officers took as evidence were published with the reports many of the businesses with a very poor rating would never recover. And of course the reports are behind the rating and can be challenged by the owners.
Currently there at least four Indian restaurants and four Indian Take-Aways in Lichfield District with a 5 rating including Chase Balti in Chasetown.
Thanks for that Cllr Steve Norman. If you have 8 then you’re doing very well. Of course in an ideal world all would be a 5 rating. Unfortunately here in North Warwickshire most are listed below that. There’s one Chinese take away that has a 5 rating that i know of.
I would wager a few pounds that there are more food businesses that have a good rating since the reports were available easily. The work of the Environmental Health teams drive up standards, something that can’t be done by the private sector and something that is often overlooked by the anti-public service brigade.
Jozef, The food standards agency do not write the reports or inspect premises. Lichfield district council Environmental Health Unit carry out food premise inspections and prepare the reports which is in the public domain. The owners / management of a food premises have sight of the report and of course the opportunity to improve standards . A further inspection can be requested once improvements have been made a new rating and report issued.
The reports and score are then uploaded electronically to the Food Standards Agency so they can provide a national “scores on the doors”. We also upload enforcement and any written warnings served to companies in relation to food standards
Environmental Health officers also run regular food handling courses and safer food management courses to ensure business are fully supported and well trained in Food standards and the law
By doing all of the above it allows the council to ensure that businesses are safe and also improve standards in our district
what has that got to do with making the actual report public, and sponsoring a site that does so.
YES they can ask for ONE more report before their next scheduled report, but that doesn’t take that PDF out of the public domain. It remains in the public domain. I could copy it , upload and put in my towns forum. It would remain there despite the new inspection. Wheras that rating on the food agencies site is unlikely to posted or kept.
I do not believe that it either makes businesses do any more than the rating they put on their window / is on the food agency site, or that it allows councils to ensure the businesses are safe and to improve standards.
society is obsessed with naming and shaming rather than doing what they supposed to do. enforce the legislation and work with the business to get a 5 rating that will wipe out the zero. Encourage an ethic where the rating is clear BUT the business that CAN survive, can move on, will improve, and will be part of a successful and prosperous town centre.
If naming and shaming is necessary to get a business to comply with food hygiene laws then there is clearly something wrong with the enforcement legislation, and the teams that are supposed to help businesses improve.
If things are so bad that a premises won’t improve then surely the course is to shut them down and take them to court. Then and only then should a report become public.
also there’s an appeals procedure. what happens if that report is in the public domain and the restaurant appeals and is found to be in the right? The damage from that report could already be done.
Then we have a situation where an establishment may have a 3, which is satisfactory, Its okay, its safe, as long as they’re careful but could do with more safeguards. A report on such a restaurant would still look really bad to the public. But on a window its a 3, average, safe.
You think that its necessary if you like but i know that it is wrong on so many levels. Its a kangeroo court
Oh Jozef, stop whining.
I pay a company for a service. If the company is not preparing and serving their food in accordance with long-established and understood regulations – and those in the UK are the best in the world – then they are insulting their customers.
A business that cannot or will not operate in a legal, safe and compliant manner does not deserve to operate.
End of.
Bob
You see Jozef those that attain the highest standard are proud and eager to display this on their door/window. It’s not rare, either, to get a 5:
http://www.ratemyplace.org.uk/inspections/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q%5Bname_cont%5D=&q%5Bcategory_eq%5D=&q%5Bcouncilid_eq%5D=1&q%5Baddress1_cont%5D=&q%5Btown_cont%5D=&q%5Bpostcode_eq%5D=&q%5Brating_eq%5D=5&lat={%3Aid%3D%3E%22lat%22}&lng={%3Aid%3D%3E%22lng%22}
“Jozef” By printing the report the public can see ,for example,if the lower than perfect mark was due to a blip on the day of the report or a deep seated “this is how we work” attitude.
I find myself agreeing with many posters above – I must be ill (LOL).
Not as ill as me Cynic. I just gave you a positive vote :)
If the report is copied to another site, as has been in this case, then it isn’t clear if it is no longer relevant. It isn’t dated, it doesn’t change. And no they dont deserve it because if the business is sold then the mud sticks when its presented on an external web site as a report. Its not rocket science. A fair system informs the public but is updateable. Therefore only the rating should be reported on. For example I can still remember that a bar in Atherstone was prosecuted for a dirty ice cream scoop and a missing tile by the bar. The public don’t forget details. That bar has had at least 7 owners since that case in the early 90s. I know the owner has changed by not everyone does. Mud sticks, it damages a towns businesses long after the owner has gone. And you gain nothing from it, other than the details to gossip about.
I dont get how it differentiates between a this is how we work attitude and a blip. There is nothing to compare it to, which is mainly my problem with it. Its a detailed report from one moment in time. even if another report has been done, a site reporting on it is unlikely to follow up on it and say its okay now.
If you mean rate my place, then that only shows one report at a time. you’ll only know if it gets a good rating in the future if you return.
I’ve voted you all down just to return the favour as you’ve even voted my post down linking to The food agency site. Says it all really lol. This is exactly the mentality that makes sites like rate my place a dangerous site to let people loose on.
When the restaurant closes, can’t sold as a going concern because this report has been printed on local web sites, and becomes derelict, then sold to me, I’ll demolish it and build houses on it.
Just doesn’t sound like a great place to eat….
Jozef “I dont get how it differentiates between a this is how we work attitude and a blip.”
Most people with an IQ bigger than their shoe size can tell when something has not been done “today” compared to something that looks like its been like that for some time .
A low score on rate my place is indicative of laziness and a carefree attitude. I work very hard to attain, and keep, my five rating. If I don’t I expect to be pulled up on it. EHO’s go out of their way to work with food producers, guide and help them. There are courses run locally to help anyone who wants it. I have worked in Lichfield in the food industry for the past 25 years at the top level and have nothing but respect for the inspectors. Food can be dangerous and the controls keep us safe. These reports give us the opportunity to make an informed decision about our dining habits. If you fear the inspection you need to clean more, learn the systems and do the paperwork.
Very well said, Simon!
Yes if you only read them on that site Simon and know how to read the info, what the info means.
If its posted on another site it means nothing. But could be taken as meaning everything. It can be dragged up forever more. I may buy the take away in question, turn it around and any site that has published this report will still have it on their site. People are thick, they don’t have an IQ bigger than their shoe size. The voting on here shows that. They read without thinking, they judge on old stories. Any newspaper can and will drag that report up at any time, even if its had a 5 for 5 years. especially if its the same owner. Wheras if its just a 1 to 5 rating they’re less likely to, its not sensational.
I shall be interested to see what happens at the take away that was shut down after the owner was taken to court in Atherstone. I understand its to be extended, refurbished to comply. I shall see if its all dragged up by newspapers when it re opens with a good rating. This was of course different because the details were revealed in court, not on a kangaroo court web site.
I understand where you are coming from Jozef but every new food rating is tweeted by Lichfield Live anyway. Therefore, if they improve, that will also be tweeted. If you want to sell food you need to abide by the rules and take a responsible look at your systems. Food which is not treated properly can kill and ruin lives. If you don’t respect that when serving customers you need to think of another career.
my point is still unanswered by anyone, and still stands. Any publication of any detail of the report can and will have lasting damage on the business, whilst it could be argued that the present owner my be getting his just desserts, any new owner would be complying and suffering from the old owners bad practices.
I’m well aware that bad food can kill, that is why we have inspections and why we have a ratings system to inform the public. If the public needed to see the report the outlet would be legally obliged to put it next to their sticker in the window. The fact is we dont need to see it to be able to judge an outlet, a zero speaks for itself. This is just a witch hunt, which the public seem to get off on these days. it’s sad that the public thinks it deserves everything, all information so that it can take the law into its own hands.
I see nothing wrong with posting the ratings, as long as it is just the ratings. I post them on my site too. I would never post the details of a report for the reasons stated. It would still be on the site in ten years time, and would come up every time someone does a search for that business name,even 7 owners on. I’ve also seen details on a report posted with another businesses name attached to. The offences were for one pub,but rumours got them associated with a totally different pub. that gets posted online and its impossible to get it of a lot of sites. I’ve seen it all done over the years. I wouldn’t waste my time arguing if i didn’t know what i was on about. I’ve got better things to do, such as playing criminal Case
Jozef, just so you are clear ratemyplace is a Lichfield district council website produced for the benefit of Lichfield citizens and visitors. This site was created and then shared with Staffordshire district councils as a way of meeting the requirements of the FSA and rating scheme. The reports are released to support the scores given and meet obligations on producing access to public domain information which the site reports are legally public domain documents.
Many businesses have had low scores and then seen the error of their ways or as you also state change hands. However I am pleased to say that the majority where low scores and food reports issued have improved and are businesses that are now successful. Those that didn’t had a change of business occur.
Remember it’s a criminal offence to knowingly sell food that maybe dangerous, contaminated and I am very proud of my environmental health officers that I work with , they do an outstanding job under pressure with ever reducing resources. Lichfield has a lot to be proud off and one being its food businesses.
Jozef, food hygiene is a legal requirement. If you went to court for a legal infringement of any type the details would be in the public domain so why should takeaway be any different?
…Josef, are you seriously arguing that critical reports should be kept secret because “people are thick”?
If it’s “thick” to actually go to the trouble of reading up on a hygiene inspection report before going to a restaurant, then God help the rest of us.
Do you have the same reservations about all critical reviews of restaurants, and publications such as the Good Food Guide or the Good Pub Guide? Surely they could influence us dimwits too. The only difference is that such ratings are mainly opinions, whereas the Rate My Place ratings are based on closely scrutinised evidence from expert inspection.
Keep up the good work Gareth, and the rest of the EH team. It continues to be an excellent system.
Dopey Jo – stop digging.
Yes i am, it is clear that the reports aren’t opinon. And yes thick people do read on sites such as lichfield live, on face book. Lines lifted from the report. People that probably won’t see the the lines off the good report because sites like this don’t publish the good ones.
reviews are posted on review sites. They have a balanced selection of reviews, some good, some bad, even from the best of places. Its shows over a long period of time how a business is doing.
Rate my place has nothing to do with rating my place, its a kangeroo court site set up by a bunch of councils to reveal documents that should be private for trained eyes only. They are are a report, not a rating, a report by one trained person. It only shows one report at one time. The site is designed to show off that the council is doing what it should be doing. It is designed for local press to see them and take snippets out to name and shame. It does not provide a balanced view in the press either.
I’ve spoken to several people about this today. Non have seen this, non knew my vies, and they all came to the same opinion as me without any help from me.
I can only assume that the people on here are public wanting gossip and rival businesses of this restaurant. Any business worth its salt knows of the dangers and damage gossip can do to a business and town.
Oh i see, Gareth is EH, and feeds his reports to that site, and you’re all being sucky sucky, that makes perfect sense now why the ratings and opinions are so biased and bizarre when everyone off this site agrees with me. LOL
Gareth feels the need to feed these details that do permanent damage to the business as pert of his helping the business to comply. Its nice to see you being so helpful to a business that doesn’t understand the concept of food hygiene.
To be honest i think its thick people that seek the reports out, They must be if they can’t understand how to read a 0 to 5 rating on a shop doorway
Oi, Gareth is Geographic Services, not EH. I’ll thank you not to accuse a highly respected officer of no little integrity of that sort of thing.
This is an official policy, welcomed by the vast majority of punters and businesses. Don’t like it? Tough. Run a tight ship, you won’t have a problem. It’s *the law*.
So, tell me, Jozef, which food emporium did you so clearly crash and burn at to pursue such a petty, ridiculous vendetta?
Bob
So, tell me, Jozef, which food emporium did you so clearly crash and burn at to pursue such a petty, ridiculous vendetta?
English please Mr bob
Seems plain enough to me.
Bob
No council, officers or not, are highly respected by me. They get the standard amount of respect, if they deserve it, which most council workers don’t.
Ah, the agenda comes out. SHouldn’t you be tending your immense collection of pot plants?
Bob
Keep voting bob, it’ll make you feel important. I got bored with the kiddy toys. I’d rather debate my point, not collect points to make me feel popular.
Jozef, please allow me to assist a little further.
The food inspection reports are subject to the freedom of information act and thus anyone can request to see them. The council seeks to publish information subject to the freedom of information act freely so the public can have access to what they have a legal right to see. Once such item of data is the food safety reports.
Many councils publish food inspection reports for viewing who have the capability to do so. I would not say that the people of Lichfield are thick as you say but people who like to know that establishments that serve food are safe and if not why.
Please read the website in full so you can understand the processes involved and when a business would be inspected again.
I would hope people feel that Lichfield district council treats its residents with respect and in an adult manner hence allowing access directly to information that they are entitled to under freedom of information. This way it helps reduce the costs and effort in council tax when constantly asked to provide such reports, having self access 24/7 allows people in Lichfield to have , if they chose, an informed choice.
crikey, I know I’m famous but I didn’t think you’d hear about my pot plants all the way up there Mr Bob