Turning the tables

Istanblue Royton

A ROYTON restaurant given a ZERO hygiene rating only three months ago and facing prosecution narrowly missed out on a quartet of national awards last night.

Istanblue, reassessed only this month as four-star rated after a major refurbishment, was vying for top honours after being nominated at the 2017 British Kebab Awards in London. Now under new ownership, the Turkish eaterie on Rochdale Road is fighting to restore its reputation after the zero-rating inspection on November 2, 2016.

An Oldham Council spokesman has confirmed that the authority is planning legal action linked to issues raised in the November inspection. At the time, inspectors said major improvements were needed in the hygienic handling of food, the cleanliness and condition of facilities and the building and food safety checks.

The Food Standards Agency operates a website giving some details on hygiene inspections. The website says the November inspection at Istanblue highlighted the need for major improvements in the hygienic food handling including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage. Similarly, major improvements were needed on the cleanliness and condition of facilities and the building, including the layout, ventilation, hand-washing facilities and pest control.

Furthermore, major improvements were needed to systems or checks to ensure food was safe, evidence that staff know about food safety, and that the food safety officer would have confidence that standards would be maintained.

Oldham Council runs a website called Scores on the Doors which shows restaurant and takeaway hygiene ratings. That website has been displaying Istanblue's November ratings for food hygiene and safety as "bad", structural compliance as "bad" and confidence in management as "little". However, the website has recently displayed an extra sentence stating: "Recently inspected ­- new rating coming soon."

Istanblue chef and owner Erhan Karakoc (39) said the restaurant has entered a new era.

He told the Chronicle: "The zero rating was about not having the paperwork. Restaurants automatically get a zero rating if they don't have the paperwork to show inspectors, no matter how good they are. Our staff tried to contact us when the inspectors called but we automatically got a zero rating. The paperwork had gone to the old accountant. It was our fault. You cannot blame the inspectors. This is their job.

"However, they have re-rated us and it has gone up to four, which we are pleased about.

"The restaurant has had a change of ownership and my old business partner left in January. We have spent a total of £450,000 on the building and done a great refurbishment.

"We are very proud of the restaurant and for being nominated for the 2017 British Kebab Awards."

At last night's awards, Istanblue, which has 20 staff, was shortlisted in the Fine Dining, Best Value and the Best Newcomer Outside London categories, while Mr Karakoc is shortlisted for the Best Chef category.

Members of the public nominated their favourite shops and restaurants. Nominations were then shortlisted based on public votes and hygiene scores. A spokesman for the British Kebab Award organisers said Istanblue's nominations are based on the restaurant's new hygiene rating of four.

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has been a visitor to Istanblue, as has BBC Radio 1 presenter Nick Grimshaw, and the restaurant's social media posts feature customers' praise.

Mr Karakoc said a number of Oldham councillors are supporting Istanblue and added: "There are many good things happening in Oldham at the moment, with new businesses and investment, including new bars in Royton. We are proud to be part of this."