Edinburgh's Dirty Restaurants

Edinburgh's Dirty Restaurants

It is reported that a number of Edinburgh’s top restaurants have at one time failed to meet hygiene standards set by health and safety inspectors.

Reports have been obtained under the Freedom of Information Act which show that some of Edinburgh's leading restaurants have served food that is not fit for human consumption.

Named and shamed include Café St Honoré in the New Town. Its kitchen was described as "filthy and in need of a thorough clean". Inspectors recommended that the owners hired an industrial cleaning firm.

Haldanes had 13 separate contraventions of food safety laws, including mouse droppings, in the year that it was named Edinburgh’s best restaurant in the Taste of Scotland awards.

The Balmoral Hotel, on Princes Street, was reportedly served with a statutory notice after inspectors recorded 24 breaches of food hygiene rules.

Fishers Bistro in Leith, whose customers have included the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his wife Cherie, was told in 2003 that the kitchen floor was dirty.

Oloroso, whose guests have included Prince William and the actor Jude Law, was warned in 2003 to replace seals on refrigerators and throw out scored chopping boards that were difficult to clean.

All the restaurants now claim that they have addressed the complaints made against them, and that there are no problems.