First catering news post of the new year. Here we take a look at some stories from the industry involving caterers, pubs, bars and restaurants. Feel free to leave your thoughts using the comments section at the end of the post.
DIRTY KITCHEN FINES ‘UNFAIR’
When villagers of Ightham near Sevenoaks, Kent were cut off by heavy snowfalls in early February 2009, they descended on their local pub the 15th century George & Dragon.
Normally the pub would expect 15 to 20 diners on a Monday, but it was inundated, serving 117, although service was affected as staff, including licensees Mark and Fiona Harris, who live off-site, were unable to get to work because the roads were impassible.
Being busy with only skeleton staff exhausted by the end of shifts, the normal ‘clean up’ was postponed but then the pub received a surprise visit from a “zealous” Environmental Health Officer who returned a few days later to say the licensees would be prosecuted.
“The kitchen was in a bit of a mess,” admitted Fiona Harris. “But there were no serious health issues and there were no customer complaints.”
But the Harris’ were each fined nearly £11,000 almost the maximum for a first offence by Sevenoaks Magistrates, for failing to comply with general hygiene requirements and EU regulations.
Annoyed villagers say the couple have been “victimised” and the fines were unfair. They have offered to help raise funds to pay the legal costs of an appeal. → continue reading: Catering News – January ‘10

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Catering News – January ‘10










