The Greasy Spoon

fred c · May 12, 2017, 12: PM

I made an inquiry to HBC about the food hygiene details of SABS My Cafe.

This is the reply from HBC

Thank you for your enquiry. I can confirm that the cafe at Masefield Road was open and trading at the time of my inspection on 9th November 2016. The cafe were awarded a rating of '5'.

The cafe may have changed their opening hours within the last 6 weeks, which may be where the confusion arises.

I hope this answers your query.

I then requested the following information from HBC

I appreciate your prompt reply regarding my query about My Place Cafe, I realise that the cafe was operating in November of 2016, it would appear from the 'new menu leaflet' however that it is now operating under new management / manager, I understand from a conversation I had with member of staff that the cafe is now run by Steven Akers Belcher.

If that is indeed the case, would it be deemed necessary for S Akers Belcher to hold the requisite food hygiene certificates and as a meals on wheels service is advertised on the menu leaflet would there be a need for certification for that service to operate.

Inspector Knacker · May 12, 2017, 12: PM

So does this mean the food rating was pre the takeaway business moving in?
Therefore would the use of the facility have changed from a social facility to a business?
How can the original food hygiene rating cover a business that wasn't there when it was issued?

fred c · May 12, 2017, 01: PM

Quote from: fred c on May 12, 2017, 12: PM
I made an inquiry to HBC about the food hygiene details of SABS My Cafe.

This is the reply from HBC

Thank you for your enquiry. I can confirm that the cafe at Masefield Road was open and trading at the time of my inspection on 9th November 2016. The cafe were awarded a rating of '5'.

The cafe may have changed their opening hours within the last 6 weeks, which may be where the confusion arises.

I hope this answers your query.

I then requested the following information from HBC

I appreciate your prompt reply regarding my query about My Place Cafe, I realise that the cafe was operating in November of 2016, it would appear from the 'new menu leaflet' however that it is now operating under new management / manager, I understand from a conversation I had with member of staff that the cafe is now run by Steven Akers Belcher.

If that is indeed the case, would it be deemed necessary for S Akers Belcher to hold the requisite food hygiene certificates and as a meals on wheels service is advertised on the menu leaflet would there be a need for certification for that service to operate.

Whoops I was timed out when modifying this post.....

This is the reply I received to the above request...

Thank you for your email. Whilst I was able to answer your general enquiry regarding the cafe at Masefield Road, as you are now asking more specific questions regarding the owner of the cafe, I would advise that you would need to direct your enquiry through the freedom of information route.

A Councillor ?......A Council Property ?...... A Business ?.........A FOI Request ?....... I feel sure we have been here before ?

stokoe · May 14, 2017, 08: PM

looking on trip advisor on the closing reviews about inspirations,and I wonder if the michilin twins cwissy and sab thought they new better what to serve,what do you think?

Finish12
Hartlepool, United Kingdom
1 review
"Expertise in Hartlepool"
5 of 5 bubblesReviewed 10 March 2017 via mobile
The only place in Hartlepool where the manager has such a passion for coffee that he grows / blends his own and sources a wide range of coffee and teas from a wide range of specialist suppliers. The home-baking is delicious. The old menu was interesting and well-prepared. So short-sighted of the Council to demand that the manager changed this menu to something more mainstream. Perhaps if they had marketed the cafe as the specialist, quality cafe that it was, they would have made this a place of interest within Hartlepool. Customers who might travel to Barker and Stonehouse, Wynyard or Sedgefield would definitely visit this cafe. A little investment in the decor, to match the quality of the food and drink would also reap benefits. I hope that the Council can look beyond the cheap coffee and chips cafes that are all too prevalent in Hartlepool and invest in a potential money-spinner. Let the manager fulfil his vision !

Visited March 2017
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

akarjl · May 15, 2017, 07: AM

Odd Finish 12 ONE review.....

Tripe Advisor is well know for being a place where people can write good/bad fake reviews......you only need to read some of the nonsense written about some of the other "cafes" in Hartlepool

Johnny Bongo · May 15, 2017, 10: PM

So...what is SAB's actual intention, on opening this Cafe? Is it to be self employed, doing a worthwhile job, helping the community? Or...is it to attract any grant money that's up for grabs, win votes when he's next up for election, get some of the Holiday Hunger money OR write off some tax that may be owed to HMRC? As he's apparently a few shillings short of a quid, it won't be long, imo, that HMRC take an interest in his finances! Maybe he can then open a cafe inside on of HMP!

fred c · May 16, 2017, 08: AM

An FOI request has been submitted.....will anything come back from it....

DRiddle · May 16, 2017, 08: AM

The problem with FOI's is they tend to give you a VERY precise answer to the very specific question(s) you asked.

So if you ask "Was SAB drinking a can of Tango is the members lounge on Tuesday morning?" the answer you get might be "no he wasn't". The facts of the matter might well be that he WAS drinking a can of Fanta at 12.01pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Answering "No he wasn't" in such an instance is technically the correct answer, as it wasn't Tango and it wasn't on a morning.

I know of several occasions where a situation similar to the example I've given above has meant that FOI's do not exactly paint a true reflection of the answer.

Especially within HBC.

akarjl · May 16, 2017, 08: AM

I suppose we should be thankful they actually respond. I see on the latest minutes published on line questions relating to lying Ste being sacked are ignores as "vexatious " when actually they have simply refused to answer the same question for over two year.

With the cafe I would think the thing to do would be to actually take your life in you hands, order some food and take photographs of the establishment....if all is not well then we can go to public health and report observed deficiencies?

fred c · May 16, 2017, 09: AM

I will leave the actual cafe visit to someone else, if I showed up (even though it is a public cafe) the cops would be called because it is a council building...... someone taking photographs of my place cafe and the food it serves up sounds a good idea.

https://youtu.be/Ln07mhUTXCY

Johnny Bongo · May 16, 2017, 12: PM

Quote from: akarjl on May 16, 2017, 08: AM

....if all is not well then we can go to public health and report observed deficiencies?

I once reported a very well known town establishment regarding, imo, a serious incident in the kitchen and the disregard of the staff for basic hygiene. I received a reply saying that the Council Health inspector had 'had a word' and that it wouldn't happen again. According to one of the staff, he said the 'incident' happens often. If this place was giving food away for free, I'd avoid it like the plague....as that's what I'd probably end up with!