It was assessed in July 2018 but the implications have only just emerged. Rhuthun/Ruthin's largest café, Caffi Rh/Café R, has scored 1 out of 5 for food hygiene. 1 out of 5 means "major improvement necessary".
On the one hand, no one can accuse Denbighshire of favouring its own. Café R may be owned and operated by Denbighshire; and the assessments may also be made by Denbighshire, but there can be no hint of any papering over cracks. The assessment was independent.
On the other hand, when this gets out—as it surely must—there's likely to be uproar. Understandably, neither council nor Café R has broadcast this news but, by law, the café has to display its score in a prominent position. This it has done by stickering the entrance—albeit very low down. No one's noticed it, till now.
We wonder how much this score will damage trade.
Denbighshire took over Café R in September 2016, some nine months after its previous tenant pulled out citing reducing footfall. Towards the end, there were always rumours of hygiene problems with the previous, original tenants. Nevertheless, the lowest they ever scored was 4 out of 5 and, for most of their time, it was a full 5 out of 5.
Aside from this specific issue, Denbighshire's control over Café R has been good. The quality of the food has improved and, once the manager who had served both the old and the new left, so has the service improved. It remains popular to the point of occasionally not being able to find a table.
We're not sure whether "generally satisfactory" is quite good enough under "cleanliness and conditions" but the major issue seems to be the management of food safety
On the one hand, no one can accuse Denbighshire of favouring its own. Café R may be owned and operated by Denbighshire; and the assessments may also be made by Denbighshire, but there can be no hint of any papering over cracks. The assessment was independent.
On the other hand, when this gets out—as it surely must—there's likely to be uproar. Understandably, neither council nor Café R has broadcast this news but, by law, the café has to display its score in a prominent position. This it has done by stickering the entrance—albeit very low down. No one's noticed it, till now.
We wonder how much this score will damage trade.
Denbighshire took over Café R in September 2016, some nine months after its previous tenant pulled out citing reducing footfall. Towards the end, there were always rumours of hygiene problems with the previous, original tenants. Nevertheless, the lowest they ever scored was 4 out of 5 and, for most of their time, it was a full 5 out of 5.
Aside from this specific issue, Denbighshire's control over Café R has been good. The quality of the food has improved and, once the manager who had served both the old and the new left, so has the service improved. It remains popular to the point of occasionally not being able to find a table.