New Cambridge rooftop bar with flies around fridge and no washing-up sink gets food hygiene rating of one
A new rooftop bar and restaurant in Cambridge has been handed a food hygiene rating of one, after inspectors found flies around the fridge. Douce Heights opened in early June and was inspected by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on June 20.
The inspector who visited the new business at the top of the Hyatt Centric hotel in Eddington described "a number of fruit flies around the toppings fridge" and advised that lids are kept on the food in the fridge to prevent contamination.
They also questioned the lack of sink for washing up: "There is no washing up sink currently. I was told that the wash hand basin in the bar was being used to wash up equipment for the pizza-making area."
Read more: The recently inspected Cambridgeshire restaurants and cafés with glowing 5-star hygiene ratings
The report pointed out the dirtiness of the pizza dough tray and the container storage on the pizza-making area, and queried the temperature of the toppings fridge. According to the inspector, the dial on the fridge read 2C, while a thermometer read 23C.
A spokesperson for Douce Heights said: "We’re not concerned about this at all. The FSA visited us within two weeks of opening, during a time when we were operating as a pop-up bar in an open space.
"Afterwards, we closed for two weeks to invest time and resources into improving our kitchen and bar based on the FSA's recommendations. This week, the FSA revisited and was very pleased with the changes we've made, including the addition of our new award-winning chef who travels from Brighton each week to work with us.
"Following this, we will be closing for another three weeks in October to build a kiosk, which will serve as a dedicated food preparation area as we transition into a permanent kitchen, at which point we will invite the FSA back to reassess our rating. We’re also constructing booth seating with infrared heaters to create Cambridge's first all-weather rooftop garden.
"Despite the initial challenges, our rooftop bar has quickly become a popular summer destination. Our pizzas have received rave reviews, selling out every day we’re open, and we’re excited to continue this momentum into the winter."