Kent's latest zero-rated restaurants 2017
Published: 00:01, 02 November 2017
If you are thinking of booking your Christmas party, you won't want to have it at any of these places!
That's because they have been given the lowest possible hygiene rating by the Food Standards Agency.
The latest figures show 10 restaurants, takeaways, and newsagents across the county have scored zero - meaning there are serious concerns about the venue's food safety and cleanliness and urgent improvement is necessary.
Scroll down for interactive graphic , video and audio
Among those with the lowest possible rating is The David Copperfield restaurant in Westwood Road, Broadstairs.
Inspectors say major improvement is necessary in all areas, including food handling, cleanliness and condition of its facilities, and the management of food safety.
Kyoto Sushi & Grill Ramsgate High Street also has a zero star rating.
Inspectors have recommended it raise its food handling standards and cleanliness, and urgently improve the management of food safety.
The Shere Punjab restaurant in Northfleet is one of the latest to be added to the zero rated list.
Inspectors say "major improvement" is necessary in the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, including having the appropriate hand washing facilities and pest control.
Management have also been advised to make "urgent improvement" to food safety, including making sure checks are in place to ensure food is safe to eat and staff know about food safety.
However, inspectors said the London Road business was rated "generally satisfactory" for hygienic food handling.
Pars Supermarket in Maidstone has been told it needs major improvement in the cleanliness and condition of its facilities.
Inspectors also called for changes to the Bank Street retailer's hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.
It was ordered to ensure a system or checks were put in place to ensure food sold or served was safe to eat and educate its staff about food safety.
Meanwhile, an inspection found Roosters Peri Peri, in Church Street, Chatham, needs major improvement in terms of cleanliness and condition of its facilities.
It also led to calls for urgent changes to ensure food sold was safe to eat and staff know about food safety.
A report said hygienic handling of food was "generally satisfactory".
Perfect Fried Chicken, in Gillingham High Street, has also been given a zero star rating, following an inspection on August 8.
Food safety officers say it requires "urgent improvement" to cleanliness and the condition of its facilities and also its management of food safety.
Hygienic food handling was said to be "generally satisfactory".
Management at New Happy Palace takeaway, in Canterbury Street, Gillingham, have been told to improve its hygienic food handling, urgently address cleanliness and the condition of its facilities, and raise the standard of its management of food safety.
Cheriton Balti & Tandoori Take Away, in Cheriton High Street, has also been ordered to improve its food handling procedures and warned major changes are needed to the cleanliness and condition of its facilities and management of food safety.
Other zero-rated food outlets are Euro Foods in Chatham High Street and India House restaurant in Dover High Street.
David Brown, food and safety team leader at Medway Council, said there are several reasons why a food outlet can end up with a zero rating.
"Generally a premises would be rated zero if the officer had serious concerns about the way food is prepared on the premises," he said.
"There are three main areas which officers will look at during a food hygiene inspection; food hygiene and safety procedures and practices (how the food is prepared, stored and cooked), the structure of the premises (is it clean, is it in good condition, are they able to keep pests out such as rats and mice?), how confident they are in the food safety management of the businesses (whether they have been given advice in the past and whether they have taken that advice)," he said.
However, Mr Brown said most food outlets have standards which are far higher than the minimum required by law and every business should be capable of getting a five star rating.
"It shouldn't be reliant on the inspectors telling the business what to do, the business should be telling the inspectors what they're doing because they should be taking control and ownership of food hygiene," he said.
"The way the scheme is designed all premises should be capable of getting a five every time and if they are not there are some issues that need to be addressed.
"It is not looking for perfection it is just looking generally that that business is doing a good job."
A new law forcing restaurants and food outlets to display their food hygiene ratings on the front of their premises is due to come into force in 2019.
Read more
Business News Dover Folkestone Gravesham Health Human Interest Kent Maidstone Medway Thanet Tourism & HospitalityMore by this author
Geoffrey Bew