Restaurant slapped with 0 hygiene rating

An Indian restaurant had a prayer mat and chemicals sat on top of open food ingredients when a food hygiene officer visited for an inspection.

Tara Spice, on Lowmoor Road in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, was slapped with a zero food hygiene rating after the check-up earlier this year.

It means the establishment, which also offers takeaway services, is one of just eight eligible businesses across Nottinghamshire given the lowest possible score.

The inspector visited the premises on July 9.

Their report says that when they arrived at the restaurant, they were told that it was closed by two people on site, who said they didn’t work there and were waiting for the chef.

But someone was cooking food in the kitchen, the tandoori oven was lit, there was a pot of sauce on the stove and there was a leg of lamb defrosting in the sink.

The inspector told the business that knowingly giving false information may constitute an “offence of obstruction”.

Inside, the officer picked up more than 20 issues.

Unspecified chemicals and a prayer mat were “stored on top of an open package of dried bay leaves” on a shelf in the preparation kitchen, while garlic bulbs were stored on shelves below a sink, where they could have been exposed to contamination from waste water and plumbing.

Yoghurt, onion bhajis and uncooked rice was stored uncovered and open without a lid or being wrapped up.

The lamb was being defrosted incorrectly in the sink due to it being left at an ambient temperature, which can “allow harmful bacteria to multiply rapidly”, the report said.

Staff could not provide any antibacterial spray when asked, indicating that it was not routinely used on work surfaces after preparing raw foods.

And at least one kitchen worker was not wearing any protective clothing, such as an apron, to protect the food from contaminants.

As well as food hygiene and safety issues, there were also numerous structural issues, such as mould on the storeroom ceiling, damaged worktops with edges missing and makeshift wooden legs that couldn’t be washed and disinfected, and no cold running water in the kitchen basin.

A shelf in the fridge was in poor condition, with peeling plastic coating exposing rusty bare metal, meaning it was not going to be easy to maintain in a clean and hygienic condition and could present a contamination risk from particles of plastic or rust being shed into food.

The standard of cleaning throughout the kitchen and two rear preparation rooms and storeroom areas were noted as being “very poor”, with a build-up of dirt and grease in numerous places.

Equipment was also broken; the ignition system on the tandoori oven wasn’t working, and staff were lighting it using a cigarette lighter and a rolled-up piece of paper, presenting a health and safety risk to employees and others.

And the drainpipe outside the kitchen had no cover, providing easy access for rats and other vermin.

The cleanliness and condition of a business’ building and facilities, which includes the building’s layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control, is reviewed by inspectors as it forms a key part of a business “enabling good food hygiene.”

Some issues, such as cracked wall tiling, were raised at a previous inspection in December 2024 but not sorted out more than 18 months later. Floor tiling was also broken.

Finally, there was no evidence of waste oil being collected or of food safety training for staff.

The inspector added: “There is little confidence that food safety matters are being effectively managed or prioritised, and your documented food safety
management system is not being properly implemented or followed.”

The restaurant boasts a four-star average rating on Google from 149 reviews, but recent ones have varied in positivity.

It has a similar rating of 3.9 out of five on Trustpilot.

The restaurant was contacted for comment.