EVERY week we expose what is lurking in the county's restaurant, pub and takeaway kitchens but while some languish at the bottom of the food hygiene pile for years others turn standards around in record time.
We have looked at five of the worst Oxford offenders from 2019 to see if they still deserve to be given a wide berth by diners.
1. There was shock this summer when popular Headington restaurant Beirut Lebanese was forced to temporarily close due to a cockroach infestation in its kitchen. The business was awarded the lowest possible rating of zero stars in July but standards were found to have been completely transformed at the Osler Road restaurant when inspectors revisited in October.
Manager Abdul Humrash said he and his staff had ‘worked very hard’ to turn things around within six weeks and the restaurant now has a top rating of five stars.
2. There was a similar dramatic downturn in standards at riverside pub Isis Farmhouse this summer, which also saw it go from a top hygiene rating to zero stars.
The pub, which prides itself on hosting ‘amazing live music’ and having ‘unrivalled views’, was given the lowest rating when inspectors from Oxford City Council’s health team visited in July. Adrian Burns, joint owner of Isis Farmhouse, at the time said: “The request for urgent improvement relates largely to the infrastructure that was in place when we received our five-star award two years ago.
"However, we are working through each of the recommendations and are confident of regaining our usual five-star rating when the works are complete.”
The pub was still rated zero stars as of December 31, 2019.
3. My Sichuan in Gloucester Green was forced to temporarily close in September after inspectors found evidence of a mouse infestation and ‘heavy fly activity’.
It was given a rating of two-stars but following an inspection on November 20 the business has now been given a score of four stars.
4. Another business facing pest problems was the Covered Market's Oxford Sandwich Company, which closed for three days in May after mouse droppings were found.
Owner Samantha Bennett said the voluntary closure was a 'precaution’ against dust and mice which could have resulted from nearby demolition work for Jesus College.
She added that the unit had been checked to ensure there were no holes where mice could get into the premises.
The business was still listed as two stars as of December 31, 2019.
5. Finally, while not the worst we've featured in 2019 a poor rating had severe consequences for popular Cowley Road kebab shop Bodrum Restaurant.
It was given two-stars in February after food hygiene inspectors raised concerns about a contamination risk from butchering chickens in its kitchen.
The East Oxford business had been up for ‘best takeaway’ at the 2019 British Kebab Awards but was kicked out of the competition over the poor rating.
At the time Bodrum manager Hasan Asam said: “The council are unhappy with the size of kitchen and that is something we agree with and are working on.”
The restaurant still has two stars as of December 31, 2019.
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