TOWN centre cafe Cappuccinos has been given a one-star food hygiene rating, The Bolton News can reveal.

Bolton Council inspectors found the popular cafe, based at the Knowsley Street entrance to the Market Place, was in need of “major improvement” when they visited in December.

The cafe previously held a maximum five-star rating and displayed this using a “Scores on the Doors” sticker at the entrance — the sticker has since been taken down but not replaced with the current score.

Cappuccinos bosses say they have now implemented the council’s recommendations and believe they will regain their five-star rating when they are next inspected.

Council leader Cliff Morris said: “We will work with Cappuccinos and go to inspect the restaurant again. I would imagine that, when we go back, the food hygiene rating will be to a satisfactory standard.

“It is optional for restaurants as to whether or not they reveal their food hygiene rating to customers. We can’t force them to do this.

“I would imagine that, when the restaurant has a better rating, they will have the sticker on the front door.” Once an establishment has received its rating, it must wait three months, after which it can invite inspectors back.


MORE:


John Muller, managing director of Cappuccinos, said: “The situation is completely under control.

“Following the December report we have made the necessary investment in Cappuccinos and have implemented all of the recommendations as outlined in the statement plus much more.

"We look forward to welcoming the inspector back at the beginning of March, when we feel confident that we will regain the highest five-star rating which we have held since the business was established in 1991 and which is still held by our sister restaurant Mezzo and our outside catering business.”

A council spokesman said: “During a routine food safety inspection of Cappuccinos, we found a number of issues that needed to be improved, including food hygiene practices and staff training.

“The main concerns were around poor cleanliness and the lack of hot water supply to sinks and wash basins.

“We revisited the premises the day after the inspection to ensure that hot water was being provided and we were satisfied that this issue had been addressed.

“Although a business may choose not to display its food safety rating, scores for all businesses can be found on the Food Standards Agency website food.gov.uk.”

The council said it was unable to give the full hygiene report to The Bolton News.