Recipe for success across the Dales

29 June 2009

Statistics released by Derbyshire Dales District Council show standards are very high in the Dales, with over 90 per cent of businesses broadly meeting food hygiene standards.

Derbyshire Dales District Council is among 100 councils across the UK that contributes to the www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk (opens in a new window) website - a national public information service where anyone can find the official local authority hygiene ratings for food businesses such as take-aways, clubs, pubs and restaurants.

The Derbyshire Dales section makes interesting reading, with 525 of the 563 inspected businesses achieving at least two stars or above and 400 in the three star or higher category. The grading used on the website runs from nought to five stars, and is a useful guide for consumers.

Derbyshire Dales District Council Leader Councillor Lewis Rose, OBE, said: “Keeping people safe and healthy are two of the District Council’s top priorities and our staff are working hard to ensure consumers get a high standard of service from food providers.

“The District Council’s Environmental Health Team works closely with food businesses to protect public health. Standards are very high in the Derbyshire Dales with over 90% of businesses broadly compliant with food hygiene legislation.”

Derbyshire Dales District Council encourages businesses to make contact if they need advice or to discuss any concerns during inspections. The District Council has set up a Critical Friends Group to consult businesses, and open days are held at which businesses can ask any questions.

To maintain and improve standards, the District Council also runs ‘Safer Food, Better Business’ workshops to help businesses understand their legal duties on food safety management.  The workshops are practical and help businesses put in place Food Safety Management Systems.  

Of the 321 businesses inspected in and around the towns of Bakewell, Matlock and Wirksworth, 297 are graded at two star or above.

Roger Howarth (pictured), who with wife Val runs the five star Black Cat Café in The Courtyard off Matlock’s Dale Road, said: “We are proud of the Black Cat’s five star status. We take hygiene very seriously and regard it as a vital ingredient in the freshly prepared, home cooked food we serve.”

Other five star eateries include Fortune Chinese Cuisine in Dale Road, Matlock, Hobbs Café in Ashford-in-the-Water, Hodgkinson’s Hotel in Matlock Bath, Le Mistral in Wirksworth, Red House Hotel & Restaurant in Darley Dale, The Barley Mow at Bonsall and the White Lion Inn at Starkholmes.

Among the five star performing residential homes are Eyam Dale House, Bakewell’s Gernon Manor House, Southlands at Matlock Bath, Tansley Residential Home and Orchard Cottage and Underhall Centre, both at Darley Dale.

Factory canteens are rated too, and five stars go to H.J. Enthoven & Sons at South Darley and Tarmac Central Ltd’s Dene Quarry at Cromford.