Restaurants hygiene rated

A new website has been launched which gives customers information about standards in the kitchens of eateries in West Dorset.

The 'Scores on the Doors' site, which reveals the results of recent West Dorset District Council inspections, went live this week.

Council food hygiene chiefs regularly inspect firms - from takeaways to nursing homes - and match them against national standards.

The checks take place every six months to three years, depending on the type of business and how it operates.

Food businesses are judged across three main areas:

• Hygiene practices and procedures, including food handling, temperature control and potential cross contamination from raw to cooked food.
• The premises, including cleanliness, layout, condition of the structure, lighting, ventilation and washing facilities.
• Confidence in management of the business.The inspections result in a risk rating that is converted into a star award, which range from five stars (the best) to no stars (the worst).

A zero score is given to premises that do not meet an acceptable grade.

The ratings, which are not an indication of food quality, are then published together with an explanation of what they mean.

Char-Chars, in South Street, Dorchester, is currently the only business in the county town with a five star score.

The speciality tearoom, which offers various local and Fairtrade products, opened last December and was inspected in January.

Sonja McNamara, who owns Char-Chars with partner Phil Morgan, was thrilled.

"We're absolutely delighted of course, it's wonderful news," she said.

"We pride ourselves on our work and that extends to our cleanliness. We're passionate about what we do.

"Customers have said it's really clean and tidy here and our waitresses are calm and friendly, which helps."

Sarah Ward, the council's community protection manager, said: "Local people should have access to information that helps them make informed choices about where they shop or eat. This new online service provides that."

All premises inspected within the last six months will be displayed on the website. The council hopes to eventually cover all registered food businesses.

The scheme is in the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act, and is supported by the Food Standards Agency.

Scoring highly in hygiene

DISTRICT council environmental health chiefs are urging business owners to come to them for advice on food hygiene.

A new Scores On The Doors website, which allows diners to check how local restaurants and other food-serving firms fared in recent inspections, has just been launched. Now the council's food safety team is encouraging establishments to work together with them to help raise food hygiene standards for customers.

The Bridge House Hotel in Bridport, which was given a top five-star rating after its inspection last October, benefited from advice from the council team.

Owner Bob Smith decided to invest in revamping the kitchens after taking over the hotel four and a half years ago.

He said: "We contacted the council for advice before starting work. Keith Tett from the district council's environmental health department came down and we planned all the work together.

"He was very helpful and advised us on everything from the layout to the lighting and antibacterial paint finishes. He even helped us choose floor tiles that were easy to clean."

Mr Smith said he and his staff were delighted' with the results. He added: "We have a great kitchen that also scores top marks for hygiene. "Working with the council helped us make the right choices. I would recommend that any food business contacts the council for advice."

The Bridge House Hotel is one of 10 businesses celebrating being awarded five-star status for food hygiene standards by the council. Other top-rated establishments included Aramark, which is based at Kingston Maurward, and Poundbury firm Dorset Cere als.

Mr Tett said the council's food safety team can offer guidance to existing businesses or anyone starting new ventures. He added: "We are here to help businesses, not to make their lives more difficult. "We offer free, friendly advice to any food business. We want to help them improve hygiene because that benefits the public."

Advice can be given over the telephone or during a visit. In some cases the council may recommend businesses contact a private environmental health consultant for more specialist help. For more information contact West Dorset District Council on 01305 251010.

Check out the ratings - West Dorset District Council's Scores on the Doors

Five-star ratings (Excellent)
Abbots, Singing Kettle, Long Street, Cerne Abbas
Aramark Limited, Kingston Maurward, Stinsford, Dorchester
Bridge House Hotel, East Street, Bridport
Char-Chars, South Street, Dorchester
Danisco Beaminster, North Street, Beaminster
Dorset Cereals, Peverell Avenue East, Poundbury
Dorwest Packaging, Firch Lane, Walditch
Hooke Court, Beaminster
St James Nursing Home, Bradpole, Bridport
Seasider Fish and Chip Shop, Forty Foot Way, West Bay
The Hyde, Walditch, Bothenhampton

Four-Star ratings (VERY GOOD)
126 East Street, Bridport,
Abbey House, Abbotsbury,
Abbeyfield House, Coldharbour, Sherborne
Abbeyfield, Prince Of Wales Road, Dorchester
Alibi's, Great Western Road, Dorchester
Barnowls Nursery, Frome St Quinton
Beaminster Public Hall, Beaminster
Beaminster VC School, Beaminster
Bridport Centre, Flood Lane, Bridport
Bridport Community Hospital, Bridport
Bubble and Squeak, Sidmouth Road, Lyme Regis
Buckland Newton Playgroup, Buckland Newton
CG and SJ Donnelly, Supa Snax, Barnes Way, Dorchester
Café Rico, Granby Industrial Estate, Weymouth
Cakes by Debbie Horne, Cemetery Road, Portesham
Castle View Nursing Home, Bridport Road, Poundbury
Cauli Flowers, Broad Street, Lyme Regis
Chesil Bank Pre-school, Strangways Hall, Market Street, Abbotsbury
Chetnole Post Office, Chetnole
Conservation Worldwide, Compton House, Over Compton
Coolwater, Granby Industrial Estate, Weymouth
Creche, St Anthony's Leweston Prep School, Sherborne
Damers First School, Damers Road, Dorchester
Designer Jackets, St Paul's Green, Sherborne
Dorchester RFC, Coburg Road, Dorchester
Framptons of Bridport, East Street, Bridport
From the Hob, Clay Lane, Beaminster
Fudges, Leigh, Sherborne
Griffins Head, Nether Compton, Sherborne
Hall's Dorset Smokery, St Swithins Road, Sherborne
Hellbarn Cottages, North Chideock, Bridport
Hussey's The Bakers, South Street, Bridport
John Glare, Chantmarle Manor, Chantmarle
Julie's Oven, Broadwindsor
Le Vieux Four, North Street, Beaminster
Little Rascals, Cumberland Drive, Granby Industrial Estate, Weymouth
Local Food Links, Bridport
Lower Farmhouse, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne
Marks & Spencer, South Street, Dorchester
Montrose, Prince of Wales Road, Dorchester
Ms Joanna Marie Hall, Bradford Abbas
Naturalife, South Street, Bridport
New Haven Hotel, Pound Street, Lyme Regis
Red House, Sidmouth Road, Lyme Regis
RETC Army Training Camp Mess, Chickerell Road, Chickerell
Riverside Restaurant, West Bay
Ruth's Munchies, Winterborne St Martin
Self (Christine Ovenden), Leigh
Sherborne School For Girls, Sherborne
Somerleigh Court Nursing Home, Somerleigh Road, Dorchester
St John's Almhouse, Half Moon Street, Sherborne
Taj Mahal, East Street, Bridport
Taste, Trinity Street, Dorchester
The Dorset Wine Company, Peverell Avenue West, Poundbury
The Giant Inn, Long Street, Cerne Abbas
The Lounge Bar and Club, High West Street, Dorchester
The Old Bank Café, Main Street, Charmouth
The Old Rectory, Winterborne Steepleton
The Royal Oak, High West, Dorchester
The Tiger Inn, Barrack Street, Bridport
The White House, Silver Street Lyme Regis
Watercleves Nursery School, Dottery, Bridport
Westwood House Hotel, High West Street, Dorchester
Winterbourne Hospital, Herringston Road, Dorchester
Wolfeton Manor, East Hill, Charminster
WRVS, Prout Bridge, Beaminster

Three-Star Ratings (Good)
2 Tudor Arcade, Tudor Arcade, Dorchester
AJ's Pancakes, Beerlands Farm, Ryall, Bridport
Abbey Friar, Westbury, Sherborne
Acorn Inn, Fore Street, Evershot
Adrian Spicer, Buckland Newton, Dorchester
Agricultural Countryside and Food, Kingston Maurward College
Bakers Arms, Monmouth Road, Dorchester
Beach & Barnicott, South Street, Bridport
Beaminster Playgroup, Beaminster
Beaminster Youth Centre, Prout Bridge, Beaminster
Bennetts Water Gardens and Tea Room, Putton Lane, Chickerell
BHC Components, Cumberland Drive, Granby Industrial Estate, Weymouth
Bob's Other Place, South Street, Dorchester
Bon Appetit, Ford Court, Chetnole
Bridleways, Oborne Road, Sherborne
Burton Bradstock Cars, Burton Bradstock
Bymead Nursing Home, Axminster Road, Charmouth
Café Clemence, Mill Lane, Lyme Regis
Cains Farm Produce. Cains Farm, Chideock
Came Down Catering, Came Down Golf Club, Dorchester
Capers, Hogshill Street, Beaminster
Catering Angels, West Compton
Caundle Filling Station, Bishops Caundle
Cerne Abbas Care Centre, Cerne Abbas
Cerne Abbas Stores, Cerne Abbas
Cerne Abbas Village Hall, Cerne Abbas
Charlestown Post Office, Chickerell Road, Chickerell
Chickerell Youth and Community Centre, Chickerell
Co-op, The Square, Beaminster
Collins of Lyme, Broad Street, Lyme Regis
Crown Inn, Uploders, Briport
Dorset Game Services, North Mills, Bridport
Electric Palace Brasserie, South Street, Bridport
Evershot Bakery, Fore Street, Ecershot
Fairfield Healthcare ltd, Charmouth
Food for Thought, Cheap Street, Sherborne
Fourfoot House, Eype, Bridport
Framptons, West Bay, Bridport
Freshwater Caravan Park, Burton Bradstock
Fun Food Factory, Bridport Road, Winterborne Steepleton
Go Go Foods, Orchard Street, Dorchester
Goldcrest Foods, Enterprise Park, Piddlehinton
Graingers Wholesalers, Marabout Industrial Estate, Dorchester
Granby Brunch, Albany Road, Granby Industrial Estate
Greenbushes Home, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester
Grub, St Michael's Trading Estate, Briport
Harbour Stores, Cobb Road, Lyme Regis
Harleyz Kitchen, McCreery Road, Sherborne
Ilchester Arms, Market Street, Abbotsbury
Jenny Wrens Tea Shop, Hogshill Street, Beaminster
JJ Stores, Simons Road, Sherborne
John Charles Associates, The Swannery, Abbotsbury
Kings Arms, Front Street, Portesham
Kings Head Inn, Bradpole, Bridport
Kingston Maurward Meats, Kingston Maurward College
La Gondola, Trinity Street, Dorchester
Laura's Larder, Stoke Abbot, Beaminster
Long Ash Service Station, Frampton, Dorchester
Longburton Farm Shop, Longburton
Lower Covey Nursery, Yetminster
Maiden Castle House, Maiden Castle Road, Dorchester
Maiden Newton Service Station, Maiden Newton
Manor Minors, Manor Park First School, Dorchester
Martins, South Street, Dorchester
Martyrs Inn, Main Road, Tolpuddle
Masonic Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne
Maxwell's Catering, Back Street, Abbotsbury
Mill House Cider, Moreton Road, Crossways
Montevideo House Care Home, Chickerell Road, Chickerell
Montien, East Street, Bridport
Nags Head, Silver Street, Lyme Regis
Nature's Kitchen, Deverel Road, Charlton Down, Dorchester
New Inn, Shipton Road, Shipton Gorge
Nisa Family Foodstore, Maud Road, Dorchester
Noor Farm, Halfway House Hill, Nether Compton
North Buckham Farm, Beaminster
Oh Crumbs, West Allington, Bridport
Old Tea House, High West Street, Dorchester
Olds Portesham, Portesham Motors, Portesham
One Stop Convenience Store, Kings Road, Dorchester
One to One Food Services, Hybris Bus Park, Crossways
Pattimore, Coombe Street, Lyme Regis
Pebbles Restaurant, Freshwater Caravan Park, Burton Bradstock
Peter Pan, Trinity Street, Dorchester
Prince of Wales School, Maiden Castle Road, Dorchester
Pymore Inn, Pymore
R and O Ball and Son, High Street, Puddletown
Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas
Rumours Restaurant, Monmouth Street, Lyme Regis
Saxon Arms, The Square, Stratton
Seagulls, Newlands Caravan Park, Charmouth
Seashells Restaurant and Takeaway, Goldern Fry, The Street, Charmouth
Sherborne Castle Estates Home Farm, Wyke Court Farm, Bishops Caundle
Sherborne Castle Tea Rooms, Sherborne Castle
Shop on The Green, Fordington Green, Dorchester
Smugglers Inn, Osmington Mills
Snappy Tomato Pizza, Forum Centre, Trinity Street, Dorchester
Spice Centre, High West Street, Dorchester
Spoilt for Choice, Well Plot, Loders, Bridport
St Mary's Primary School, Thorncombe
Summertime Playgroup, Alexandra Road, Dorcherster
Sunny Day Nursery, Middle Farm Barns, Poundbury
Sydling Brook Organic Farm, Up Sydling Farm, Sydling St Nicholas
T Gibbs Catering, Yeovil Golf Club, Yeovil
TCS catering, Bowling Club, Armada Way, Fordington, Dorchester
The Coach House, Athelmpton
The Digby Tap, Digby Road, Sherborne
The Egg Cup, Coast Road, Swyre
The Farmer's Griddle/Big Beefbite, Bishops Down, Sherborne
The Fridge, Tudor Arcade, Dorchester
The Hunters Moon, Middlemarsh
The Knoll, High Sea Lane, Charmouth
The New Inn, Stoke Abbott, Beaminster
The Octagon, Pummery Square, Poundbury
The Old Bunching Shed, Watery Lane, Tincleton
The Old Schoolhouse Tearooms, Back Street, Abbotsbury
The Original Thomas Hardy, Alington Avenue, Dorchester
The Overflowing Cup, Baptist manse, North road, Sherborne
The Red Lion, The Square, Beaminster
The Trawlerman, George Street, west bay
The White Horse, Litton Cheney, Dorchester
Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton, Dorchester
Three Compasses, Charminster, Dorchester
Townsend Catering, Putton Lane, Chickerell
V and S Sugarcraft Memories, Crosstree Close, Broadmayne
Value House, Mandeville Road, Wyke Regis, Weymouth
Victoria Hotel, Uplyme Road, Industrial Estate
Village Hall, Thorncombe, Chard
Village Shop, Yeovil Road, Halstock
Warmwell Caravan Park, Warmwell, Dorchester
West Bay Housing Society, Harbour House, West Bay, Bridport
Whitway House Nursing Home, Winterborne Steepleton, Dorchester
Wills Burgundy, West Bay Road, Bridport
Woodbury Down, St Albans, Colway Lane, Lyme Regis
Wrackleford Sporting and Woods, Wrackleford House, Stratton

Two-Star Ratings (Fair)
193 St Andrews Road Dorset Res Homes, Bridport
Abbeyfield House, Westhill, Silver Street
Anchor Inn, Salwayash, near Bridport
Arkles, Digby Road, Sherborne
Barry's Veg, Old Gas Works, Icen Way, Dorchester
Beach House, Marine Parade, Lyme Regis
Borough Arms, High East Street, Dorchester
Bridport Football Club, Skilling Hill Road, Bridport
Carrington Contracts, The Brace of Pheasants, Plush
Cattistock Post Office, Cattistock, Dorchester
Cerne Abbas Cricket Clubhouse, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester
Chedington Golf Club, Holt Farm, South Perrott, Beaminster
Chetnole Inn, Chetnole, Sherborne
Cinnamons, Coldharbour, Sherborne
Coach and Horses, South Perrott, Beaminster
Colin Clark and Sons, Manor Farm, Grimstone, Dorchester
Cross Key Public House, The Cross Keys Hotel, Sherborne
Crown Inn, Church Street, Puncknowle
Dogbury Farm, Dogbury Cottage, Lyons Gate, Minterne Magna
Dorchester Trinity Club, Trinity Street, Dorchester
The Eastbury Hotel, Long Street, Sherborne
Elm Tree Inn, Langton Herring, Weymouth
Eype House Caravan Park, Eype, Bridport
Garden House Rest Home, Priestlands, Sherborne
George Hotel, Cheap Street, Sherborne
Harbour Newsagents, West Bay, Bridport
Harbour Stores Grocery, West Bay, Bridport
Highlands End Leisure Club, Eype, Bridport
Hilfield Friary, Home of St Francis, Hilfield, Cerne Abbas
Holwell Nursery School, Crouch Lane, Holwell
Horse With The Red Umbrella, Georgian House, High West Street, Dorchester
III Amici, Tudor Arcade, South Street, Dorchester
Ilchester Arms, Symondsbury, Bridport
J & M Parsons, Cheap Street, Sherborne
Kingcombe Centre, Lower Kingcombe, Toller Porcorum
Lucy's Farmhouse, Oathill Farm, Wayford, Crewkerne
Magdalen Project, Winsham, Chard
Mandarin House, Coldharbour, Sherborne
Masonic Hall, Broad Street, Lyme Regis
McDonald's, Middle Farm Cottages, Bridport Road, Dorchester
Medway Farm, Askerswell, Dorchesterv Ming Wah's Lemongrass, Trinity Street, Dorchester
Mousetrap, Agra Place, South Street, Dorchester
P & J Butchers, South Street, Dorchester
Potters Post Office and Stores, Bishops Caundle, Sherborne
Quality Butchers, Maud Road, Dorchester
Quality Corner, Broad Street, Lyme Regis
Quality Fish and Chips, Fordington Green, Dorchester
The Ropemakers, West Street, Bridport
Rose and Crown Inn, Trent, Sherborne
Royal Lion Hotel, Broad Street, Lyme Regis
Sabins Fine Foods, Hound Street, Sherborne
Sandwich Girls, Filling Station, Cumberland Drive, Granby Industrial Estate, Chickerell
Siam Corner, High East Street, Dorchester
Simon Berry, Hogshill Street, Beaminster
Simply Sponges, Ridgeway, Sherborne
Six North Square, Dorchester
Society of Friends, South Street, Bridport
Station Diner, The Old Railway Station, West Bay, Bridport
Tavern Social Club, Old Farm Way, Crossways
Tesco Customer Café, Tesco, Weymouth Avenue, Dorcheste
The Blue Vinney, Puddletown, Dorchester
The Brewers Arms, Winterborne St Martin
The Caddy Shack, Old Sherborne Road, Charminster
The Clubhouse West Fleet Holiday Farm, Fleet, Weymouth
The Dairymaid, West Street, Bridport
The George Hotel, Charmouth, near Bridport
The Inn For All Seasons, North Street, Charminster
The Kiosk, The car park, Ringstead, Dorchester
The Millside, Mill Lane, Lyme Regis
The New George, Trinity Street, Dorchester
The Old Barn, East Fleet Farmhouse, Fleet, Weymouth
The Pilot Boat Inn, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis
The Poet Laureate, Pummery Square, Poundbury
The Sawmill Café, Mapperton House, Mapperton
The Three Wishes, Cheap Street, Sherborne
The Watchouse Café, West Bay, Bridport
The West Bay Hotel, West Bay, Bridport
The White Hart Inn, Cheap Street, Sherborne
Thorncombe Sports Club, Thorncombe, Chard
Turks Head Inn, East Street, Chickerell
Victoria Wine, Broad Street, Lyme Regis
Washingpool Farm, North Allington, Bridport
Wessex Royale Hotel, High West Street, Dorchester
Wessex Stadium, Radipole Lane, Weymouth
Williams The Bakers, Hardye Arcade, South Street, Dorchester
Wyndhams Delicatessen, Victor Jackson Avenue, Poundbury

One-star (Poor)
A-Z Loose Food, Bull Hotel, East Street, Bridport
Balti Express, High East Street, Dorchester
Braggs Stores, Main Street, Charmouth
Britannia Inn, Westbury, Sherborne
China Express, High East Street, Dorchester
Crown Inn, West Bay Road, Bridport
Curry Garden, West Street, Bridport
George Hotel, West Bay, Bridport
George's Bakery, East Street, Bridport
Hyde Crook House, Frampton, Dorchester
Market Café, Maumbury Road, Dorchester
Marquis of Lorne Inn, Nettlecombe, Bridport
Park House Care, Winterborne St Martin
Peking Town/Beijing, High East Street, Dorchester
Rajpoot, High West Street, Dorchester
Tamarisk Farm Limited, West Bexington, Puncknowle
The Bakery, Dorchester Road, Maiden Newton, Dorchester
The Gorge Café, South Street, Dorchester
The Oak at Dewlish, Dewlish, Dorchester
Town Mill Bakery, Riverside Studio, Coombe Street
Treetops Residential Home, Timber Hill, Lyme Regis

No Stars (Major Improvements Required)
Beijing Palace Chinese Restaurant, Yeovil Road, Over Crompton, Sherborne
Charmouth Bakery, High Street, Charmouth
Hope and Anchor Inn, St Michael's Lane, Bridport
Lyme Fish Bar, Coombe Street, Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis Golf Club, Timber Hill, Lyme Regis
Riverside Takeaway, Dorchester Road, Maiden Newton
Shelly's Bakery Limited, Manor Farm, Grimstone, Dorchester
The Admiral Hood, Mosterton, Beaminster
The Imran Tandoori Restaurant, East Street, Bridport
West 1, West Street, Bridport
Wimpy, South Street, Dorchester

For further information go to www.dorsetforyou.com and follow the links