Star rating slashes pub trade
A Lincolnshire pub landlord is claiming his council's new health and safety star rating guide could bankrupt him.
East Lindsey District Council's (ELDC) guide has infuriated Roy Ablett, of the Red Lion, Baumber, near Skegness, because he claims his "zero star" rating was based on an inspection at the beginning of the year on the back of the previous landlord's record.
But ELDC said the rating was given after an inspection on 8 March - a few weeks after Ablett opened following an £18,000 refurbishment.
After this inspection, Ablett said, he was given a list of small jobs to do within two months to get the all-clear. He said the jobs had been done to the inspector's satisfaction within 10 days.
In the first week of the rating story appearing in the local newspaper, the Horncastle News, Ablett said his business lost £1,200 and had never recovered.
"I was on the front page and have lost all the local trade," said Ablett. "People read the story and jumped to the conclusion that I must be dirty.
"I can't believe that, after so much work, so much money and so much time I've spent to get this place open I've been rated on the old system."
A spokesman for ELDC said the Red Lion's star rating would remain until the next formal inspection, probably early next year.
"However, I would encourage any food premises unhappy with their food rating score to use the right of reply on the website. This enables proprietors to put their perspective on the issue.
"The food rating system has attracted a lot of attention among the local community and is something that acknowledges the exceptional work being carried out by those with three stars, while encouraging those will fewer stars to improve their food safety practices."
