Oldham: Inside Friends Restaurant with one star food hygiene

Friends Restaurant, on Ashton Road, was given the damning score, the second lowest available, when an Oldham Council officer attended in January, owner Hivi Sadar explained.

It was the first time in its six years trading that the Hathershaw takeout was issued one star, and while The Oldham Times previously reported that the Food Standards Agency marked them down due to its food handling, the 36-year-old refuted those claims.

Friends Restaurant, Ashton Road (Image: Newsquest)

“I was so upset when we found out, I don’t understand it because believe me, you won’t find any place as clean as us – I’m a freak with the cleaning,” the Blackley woman said.

“It hasn’t got anything to do with the food, it was because of a handrail, soap in one of the two sinks we have by the toilet and a food handling booklet.

“Sometimes when it’s busy you don’t have time to go to the toilet, we have a cupboard full of soap but a customer used the last of the soap in one of the sinks by the toilet and she went in after them.”

The council said in a statement that "significant issues" had been identified during the inspection, adding: “Council officers follow the strict Food Standards Agency Code of Practice when carrying out food hygiene inspections and issue the relevant rating."

Friends Restaurant, Ashton Road (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Sadar however stated: “We explained that there is a second sink with soap and that our staff don’t have time to check every time someone comes out.

“Last year she came and said everything was fine, this year she came and said we need a handrail – we’ve been open six years why have they only just said it?

Friends Restaurant, Ashton Road (Image: Newsquest)

“She also said that the work we were doing at our dessert corner was a hazard – we tried to explain that it was temporary, and it would be gone in three days, but she was unreasonable.”

However, when the officer asked to see the food safety management booklet the chef, who Mrs Sadar explained was angered by the inspector “not listening” to him, refused to show it to her – despite having it filled out on site.

A handrail has since been installed on the stairway which is only accessed by staff (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Sadar added: “That’s why we got the one rating because of the booklet they wanted to see which our chef refused.”

Just weeks after the inspection, Friends Restaurant paid the £198 that Oldham Council ask businesses to pay for reinspection – but two months on and a second visit has not been made.

Friends Restaurant, Ashton Road (Image: Newsquest)

The authority promises to attend within three months of the booking, so an inspector is expected to visit in the coming weeks.

A spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “While the restaurant received a rating of five in December 2021 after significant improvements, another programmed inspection in January 2024 resulted in a rating of a one due to significant issues being identified during the inspection.

“Council officers follow the strict Food Standards Agency Code of Practice when carrying out food hygiene inspections and issue the relevant rating – businesses can appeal the rating within a given timeframe.

“It is also important, and a legal requirement, that businesses have a documented food safety management system, something officers review when undertaking inspections.”

They added: “The issue with the handrail is a health and safety matter and although pointed out to the business owner at the time, it does not impact on the food hygiene rating issued by the officer.

“We remain committed to working with businesses to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and maintain high hygiene standards and protecting the health and wellbeing of our communities.”

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