One Newport eatery came head and shoulders above the rest this week after scooping an “excellent” five star rating for food safety.
And the Lutine Bell also scooped another award leading to double celebrations at the town business.
In the new Telford & Wrekin Council scores on the doors scheme The Lutine Bell Restaurant on the town’s High Street became the only premises in the town to take the full five stars, this week.
Restaurant manager Phil Wilkes, who lives on Wellington Road, has been in charge for nearly two and a half years and said staff at the business were delighted to hear the news.
He said: “It feels fantastic, we were nervous but the staff are extremely happy because of all the hard work put in.”
Under the scheme inspectors turn up at restaurants, residential homes, bakeries, nurseries and schools to examine their food safety standards.
Inspectors visited 19 other outlets in the town but none managed to scoop five stars. The highest score was four, with some businesses in the town getting none and rated as “very poor.”
But the Lutine Bell has exceeded all of them and also won a seperate Platinum Award, dished out by Telford & Wrekin Council and the NHS.
The award looks at the businesses healthy food options and hands out a bronze, silver, gold or platinum award, depending on the menu.
The eatery was first handed the Platinum Award in January 2008 and inspectors returned this month and renewed the award until December next year.
Mr Wilkes added that the platinum award was another huge boost to the business.
He said: “We have put in a lot of hard work into the menus and the way we handle the food and the sources of it. They will fine you £2,000 if you have anything in your kitchen without a best before date on it so you have to be organised.”
“Score On The Doors are good for the public to read, it’s not something to be negative about. It feels good to wear the badge for Newport.
“There are a lot of good eating places in Newport and that needs to be seen, rather than it being knocked.”
The Lutine Bell, at 14 High Street, is open Monday - Saturday, from 9am - 3pm and Saturday night from 6.30pm - 9.30pm.
The star ratings are available to view on www.telford.gov.uk/scoresonthedoors.
