A coffee shop on the grounds of Bradgate Park has turned around its food hygiene fortunes after being given one of the worst ratings by inspectors.

Bradgate Coffee Company, located in the Conservatory Tea Room, Newtown Linford, was given a one-out-of-five food hygiene rating by Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) food hygiene inspectors in July this year.

However, since then, it has received full marks from inspectors during a revisit on September 24, earning a ‘Very Good’ rating – the highest possible score – on the food hygiene scale.

During the July visit, inspectors had major concerns from the coffee shop and said food safety and hygiene “were not compliant” with many issues from a previous inspection “not being addressed”.

One major issue that inspectors had was a fly problem in the preparation kitchen and front servery area, but “steps had been taken to improve the fly situation” after a revisit.

Flies weren’t the only issues at the coffee shop after inspectors noted that a hand-wash basin was “dirty”, not being used and had a spider web at the bottom of it.

Clotted cream that appeared to be out of date was also found, as was a container of frozen yoghurt in the rear store room with a self-applied use-by date of May 16.

There were also a number of serious cross-contamination concerns found, including uncovered food in a freezer, badly burnt oven gloves, and a “burnt and damaged” wooden utensil, which was ordered to be replaced.

The main kitchen was also described as “disorganised and cluttered” during the visit, with “very little clean space” for food preparation and “messy surfaces”.

Inspectors noted that the conditions of the kitchen were “worse” than on a previous visit and ordered the coffee shop owners to make sure things were being left clean and tidy.

A large hole in the wall, plugged with cling film and blue roll, was also found  which inspectors told bosses to plug up during their last visit.

Other parts of the shop were also “dirty” and in “disrepair” including a dirty microwave, a “sticky brown patch” at the back of the fridge as well as ovens needing to be “cleaned out”.

The report also warned bosses that if it failed to address the problems, it may be served with a legal notice.

The inspector said: “I note from our records that you have been previously advised that further legal action may be taken if paperwork issues haven’t improved.

“When I carry out my compliance review in a month or two – I expect to see progress with this and other matters in this report, or I will have to serve a legal hygiene improvement notice.”

We attempted to contact Bradgate Coffee Company multiple times but did not receive a response in time for publication.

By Chris Harper (Local Democracy Reporter)