Scores on the Doors

Appearing in some shops that prepare food are scores under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. You'll find them in the windows of Dal Chini, the Cherry Bomb and the Wernfechan chippie. All score "good", that is 4 out of a maximum of 5. The most notable, however, is the score in for sale Ruthin Tandoori's window. They get "very good", a maximum of 5 out of 5. My apologies if other premises also have their ratings on display. If you have, they weren't immediately obvious.

The story doesn't end there, though. Denbighshire council has checked 18 premises in and around Rhuthun/Ruthin and their results are on the web for all to see. They range right across the spectrum and it includes one premises rated at zero ("urgent improvement necessary").

Premises the subject of the food hygiene scheme can include cafés, pubs, takeaways, restaurants, nursing homes and schools. Other top scorers at 5 also include Ysgolion Cyffylliog a Phentrecelyn; the Trosnant Residential Home, Park Road; and the Three Pigeons, Graigfechan. Congratulations to all five that scored the maximum 5.

A couple of premises scored 3 or "satisfactory". The word "satisfactory" in an interesting one, here and elsewhere. In terms of the scheme, it’s two points below "very good". Is "acceptability" any good any more, even if the term suggests that the premises afforded the score fulfilling all the demands of the scheme?

The most important facet of the scheme is that it encourages businesses to improve themselves. That’s why the scheme is such a good idea. I guess I would be ill advised to mention the poorer performers by name. There were four between 0 and 2 inclusive ("urgent improvement necessary", "major improvement necessary" and "improvement necessary") but they are available for all to see at this web address. Use the postcode "LL15" rather than Rhuthun or Ruthin. "Ruthin" brings up every tested UK business with the name "Ruth"!

Rather like a car's MOT certificate & roadworthiness, the food scheme measures hygiene on the day. Neither does it guarantee a tasty meal!