Top restaurant regains five-star hygiene rating

THE White Hart, Lydgate

A TOP Saddleworth restaurant has been returned to its high five position by a council's consumer watchdog.

The White Hart at Lydgate had a "an improvement necessary" tag and a food hygiene rating of 2 after a Scores on the Doors survey in October.

Scores on the Doors gives consumers a chance to check out pubs, clubs, takeaways, restaurants and a link to examine how hygienic and well-managed food preparation is at any of the 515,182 listed premises throughout the UK.

However, after a visit by an environment officer last Friday, the restaurant has been upgraded to five, the maximum score, on the website.

Following the visit in October, The White Hart said: "We invest in high standards for both quality of product and a higher standard of hygiene.

"However, when an inspection found they were operating with just one vacuum pack machine, the food hygiene rating of 5 was slashed to 2.

"On October 3 a routine environmental health inspection found the kitchen was using one machine for wrapping both raw and cooked food items in contravention of EU Food Standard Regulations. Those same regulations allow the use of one roll of cling film to be used to wrap both raw and cooked food."

Head chef Mike Shaw said: "Using a vacuum packer for portioned food is better for both a higher quality standard and is more hygienic than using cling film. We could have chosen to use cling film and saved a lot of money. Instead we bought a second machine so that we now have one for raw and one for cooked food."

The White Hart's managing director Charles Brierley, said today: "I'd like to thank the environmental health officer for visiting us at such short notice.

"The visit took place during a very busy lunch service with over 150 people enjoying their Christmas Footings. I had every confidence in Mike and his team and we are all obviously delighted the rating has returned to 5/5."