Barry News
Barry cafe features on TV programme about 'scores on the doors'
12:30pm Saturday 4th February 2012
A BARRY café has featured on ITV’s Wales this Week, after achieving top marks in a hygiene inspection test.
Winnies Café, on Vere Street, was chosen as part of a campaign to encourage businesses to show their Food Hygiene Rating prominently outside their premises.
Mikhaela Paterson, who has run the café for 18 months, said: "The whole idea of the programme is that the Welsh Government want to make it compulsory for businesses in Wales to show their 'scores on the doors'."
Winnie’s café scored the top mark of Five in the three categories of Confidence in Management/ Control Procedures, Food Hygiene and Safety Procedures, and Food Premises Structure (including cleanliness).
"I work really hard and try to make sure customers get the best service possible, so I think this is an acknowledgement of that," added the 40-year-old.
"I have always tried my best but it is tough for small businesses to flourish."
Mikhaela, who is supported by her sister-in-law Jayne and husband Richard at the café, said filming the inspection for the TV programme was ‘nerve-wracking’.
"I think I was more nervous about the inspection than the film crew, as they have the power to shut you down," she said.
"The film crew were here for a couple of hours filming the steps the inspector takes for local businesses during an inspection."
Winnies Café is named after former Cadoxton resident Winnie James, who was born and grew up in the building when her parents ran it as a butchers.
Mikhaela and Richard, who previously owned the fruit and veg shop next door before it was converted into flats, were also good friends with Winnie and her family.
"She was well respected by people across Cadoxton and we decided to name it after her," added Mikhaela.
The National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme aims to help consumers make more informed choices about where they buy and eat food by providing at-a-glance information about hygiene standards found during routine local authority inspections.
"I think the gradings are a good thing and I would certainly look out for them in other places," said Mikhaela.
The café featured on Wales this Week on Tuesday (January 31) - but you can still see the episode online at http://itvwalesblog.com/itv-wales-programmes/