Croydon Council has named and shamed the most unhygienic restaurants in the borough Eleven restaurants in the borough are under investigation after scoring zero in food safety and hygiene inspections.

Croydon Council is in the process of investigating each establishment after its inspectors found them to require urgent improvement on the way food is prepared, cooked or stored, the cleanliness of the building and how the business manages its records.

Restaurants including My Old China Restaurant, Godstone Road, Croydon, Taj Mahal, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath and Errols Cafe, Surrey Street, Croydon now face prosecution unless they make urgent improvements to their cleanliness.

A spokesman for Croydon Council, who carried out the inspections, said 11 sites have had notices served on them, or are in the process of being prosecuted.

He said: “The premises that we close have to have an imminent risk to health, usually have a pest problem - generally mice or cockroaches. This usually goes hand in hand with poor cleaning.”

Every restaurant in the borough is inspected on a regular basis with the results published online through the Food Standards Agency, which is updated monthly.

A business found to be failing is given advice on the day and sent follow-up letters before legal notices are served.

While 11 businesses have a score of zero, a further 90 received a score of one, meaning they require major improvement.

In contrast 160 were awarded top marks of five out of five.

These included the Burger King in Croydon University Hospital, kebab and burger joints Abra Kebabra in Shirley and Fingers Kebab in Central Parade, New Addington.

Councillor Simon Hoar, cabinet member for community safety, said: “The council has a really important role to play in ensuring that people can eat out in Croydon and be confident that they will not be put at risk.

“There are a huge number of fantastic restaurants, takeaways and cafes in the borough, and I’m pleased at how few are currently scoring low marks on this inspection system.”

ZERO RATING
Anikas, Selsdon Parade, Addington, South Croydon
Dosa Lounge, St James Road, Croydon Errols Cafe, Surrey Street, Croydon
Kabada Brighton Road, Croydon Miss Ellies Cafe, Mitcham Road
My Old China Restaurant, Godstone Road, Croydon
Rubicorn Restaurant Takeaway, Station Road, West Croydon
Sara’s Diner, Church Street, Croydon
Shahee Bhelpoori, London Road, Croydon
Sheimaran Restaurant, London Road, Croydon
Taj Mahal, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath

5 STARS
Abra Kebabra, Wickham Road, Croydon
Burger King Croydon University Hospital, London Road, Croydon
Clocktower Cafe Town Hall And Clock Cafe Katharine Street Croydon
Companions Takeaway 145 Milne Park East Croydon
Cosmo, Hesterman Way, Croydon
Croydon Football Club, Albert Road,Croydon
Fingers Kebab, Central Parade, Croydon
Food For U, Beulah Road, Croydon Ikea, Volta Way, Croydon