Top chef `victimised'

Seb Ramsey

January 08, 2007

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BOILING OVER: Paul Heathcote.

A TOP TV chef claims he has been `victimised' by food safety inspectors who gave one of his restaurants a `poor' rating.

Paul Heathcote's Olive Press bistro in Warrington scored just one star for `food hygiene compliance' following an inspection by the local council.

The results are published on the 'scores on the doors' website, which compiles food safety audits by local authorities nationwide.

The 46-year-old celebrity chef says the food team found just two minor problems when they visited the restaurant in the town's Pyramid centre.

And he believes the trading standards food safety team has tried to make an example of it.

Following the inspection, the team also reported that it had `little' confidence in the management.'

Actual food hygiene was rated as fair by the inspectors, as was the building's structure.

Mr Heathcote said the problems found were `very minor'. "There were some kitchen utensils in a hand-wash sink and a delivery had been put in a fridge - the wrong place for it," he said.

Hiccup

"After our 16 years running 11 restaurants without as much as a hiccup, for somebody to say they have no confidence in us makes us feel a bit victimised.

"The catering for the Parr Hall venue is done from the Olive Press, using exactly the same staff and team. That's been given a five-star rating with confidence in the management rated as high."

The up-market bistro was previously rated highly.

Peter Astley, head of trading standards food safety at Warrington council, said the ratings were not based on just the problems found in the kitchen. "We wouldn't score them down on just a couple of minor things," he said.

"We look at whether there are good management systems and also whether those systems are being put into practice effectively.

"We're not naming and shaming businesses, we're trying to improve services across the board."

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Showing comments 1 to 8 and replies | View All

Ezz, Horwich (08/01/2007 at 09:39)

Where can I find this website?
it sounds interesting, I'd like to see the scores for some of the mucky takeaways near me.

Andy, Lancs (08/01/2007 at 10:16)

Here you go: www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk

John, Cheshire (08/01/2007 at 13:15)

Very useful but look at the list of Councils participating. Liverpool and Warrington are the only ones in the North West. Chances are your greasy spoon is not included.

Ace Riley, manchester (08/01/2007 at 14:20)

Its those minor problems that kill people? We need a more robust hygeine system for all food outlets? we need visable certificates ob full view in all places that sell food? And powers that can shut these places on a moments notice when they contravene the rules ,to safeguard the public ? a well known indiann restraunt who had big health problems recently had numerous warnings but still failed to meet the health standards is still trading.These places should be closed down and their "licence to sell food should be revolked" on the premises in question ,this is how they should work "Three strikes and your premises loose the rights to sell food" End of story.And rate them like they do in other countrys.

Mary Biphwachs, Whitefield, (08/01/2007 at 17:15)

I have eaten here on several occasions and i have always suffered a bad tummy as a result.
I will never return to the Olive Press bistro for as long as i live.
How on earth they have the gall to feel victimised by health officials is downright offensive to victims like myself and others, Heathcote should be grovelling to his customers and rectifying the mess he has gotten into, Using spin to play the innocent won't fool anyone
for long.

Jo, Salford (10/01/2007 at 13:29)

It's petulant and silly of Paul Heathcote to claim that he is being victimised here. However minor he thinks his kitchen's mistakes were, the fact remains that hygiene laws have to be complied with and his staff should be trained well enough to understand this and stick to even the 'minor' rules. However... Mary, I don't believe you for one second when you say that you've eaten in this restaurant several times and always had a bad tummy afterwards. Why on earth would you return several times to a restaurant which had repeatedly made you ill? And if so, why didn't you report this to Environmental Health rather than waiting for several occasions and then posting a comment on a website? I've eaten in both the Manchester and the Warrington branch of the Olive Press with my partner several times and we've never once been ill - so while I certainly think that Heathcote is clearly in the wrong here, I'd still take Mary's remarks with a very large pinch of salt.

Danny, Oldham (15/01/2007 at 11:06)

I totally agree with Jo. I've also eaten at the Olive Press on many occations without any ill effects so I'm sure this is a isolated case.

I persoanally feel that we should congratulate the hygiene authority for doing their job and raising the standards of hygiene.

Hopefully the restaurant in question will address these issues and ensure they dont happen again as I'm sure they are aware of the consequences.

The hygiene authority will keep a close eye on this I'm sure!

JoJo, Manchester (15/01/2007 at 21:57)

Standards of hygiene are a serious matter, and it is clear that this has highlighted an issue at one particular branch of the Olive Press, at one particular moment in time. It is important that information is made available to the public, but why not give the owner a chance to correct things before going to town on them? The three strikes idea seems like a good one to me too, especially if you have an excellent track record previously. Hopefully, Paul Heathcote will sort out the issues at the restaurant, and will take care to ensure all the staff there follow procedures. I'm sure he will... and in a couple of weeks I might just visit Warrington and see if Mary is in the toilets!!!
As for being victimised, I think the local press, and health authorities are trying to show an example of a well - known place so that notice will be taken, and all eataries will be on their guard to take note.

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