Ramside Hall offers kitchen inspections to guests as bosses say they are up to the expected standard after one-star food hygiene rating

A popular hotel is offering guests the opportunity to inspect its kitchens after it received a one-star food hygiene rating.
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Ramside Hall say it is ‘fully confident’ that it will receive a higher rating when it is inspected by the Durham County Council later this month.

It comes after the hotel, spa and golf club received a one-star food hygiene rating after inspectors visited its four kitchens on January 21.

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The food safety agency report revealed inspectors told the hotel’s general manager that food hygiene standards were ‘completely unacceptable and a significant improvement’ is required as a matter of urgency.

Ramside Hall Hotel and Spa, Durham, is inviting guests to inspect the kitchen.Ramside Hall Hotel and Spa, Durham, is inviting guests to inspect the kitchen.
Ramside Hall Hotel and Spa, Durham, is inviting guests to inspect the kitchen.

The award-winning hotel, in Carville, County Durham, said it immediately rectified all areas of concern in the report.

And now hotel bosses say they are not only ‘fully confident’ of a higher rating when it is re-inspected but want to reassure customers that its kitchens are now up to the expected standard – and is inviting anyone with concerns to inspect the kitchens themselves.

John Adamson, owner of Ramside Estates, said he was “disappointed and embarrassed” by the initial rating but confirmed environmental health officers were satisfied with the work carried out when they returned to the hotel.

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Mr Adamson wants customers and clients to know that there is no reason not to eat in the hotel’s many restaurants.

“We want to reassure our many guests that their well-being is our top priority and we welcome anyone to come and visit the hotel and see the kitchens for themselves,” he said.

“Our other hotels have four and five star ratings and we are putting a whole programme in place to ensure these problems never arise again.”

The plans include the appointment of an independent environmental health officer who will be asked to make monthly visits to ensure standards are maintained, plus additional staff training.

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The hotel made a substantial investment in recent years in high tech equipment for the kitchens and will be looking at further new technology in the near future.

Staff are waiting for a further visit from environmental health officers in the coming weeks.

Anyone wanting to visit the kitchens should email Ramside’s group health and safety officer at [email protected]