We Deliver Croydon is your home dining resource and delivery guide. When it’s time to eat, simply pull up our site, and browse our up to date list of good eats that are delivered in your area!

Times may be uncertain, but you can count on We Deliver Croydon to provide you with up to date information on the food you want delivered to your door or picked up curbside. Stay safe.

http://localresources.mycroydonlocal.info/keepingitlocal

There are incredible things to eat in Croydon at every possible price point from the obligatory £2 chicken and chips deals to fancy fine dining.

But as well as taste, food hygiene is incredibly important, which is why Croydon Council sends food inspectors to places serving hot food regularly to check standards on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.

Inspectors show up unannounced and check the premises all over for mess as well as the way food is handled and records are kept.

Reports are graded in three main inspection categories. Hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, and management of food safety.

Hygienic food handling covers all handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage carried out by all members of staff.

The cleanliness and condition of facilities and building category includes having an appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control to enable good food hygiene.

Here are the 18 outlets in Croydon which currently have a zero hygiene rating, the lowest possible grade:

Am2Pm, Central Parade, New Addington

(Image: Google)

New Addington newsagent Am2Pm was last inspected in January last year, according to the Food Standard’s Agency, getting the lowest possible hygiene rating.

The store failed to impress the Croydon inspectors in 2018 scoring “improvement necessary” for hygienic handling, “major improvement necessary” for cleanliness and condition as well as “urgent improvement necessary” for management of food safety.

We contacted the store to find out why there hadn’t been another inspection or if it had closed, but there was no answer.

A worker at H&T Pawnbrowkers said the shutters had been down at the store for “about a week”.

Chicken World, Godstone Road, Kenley

This Kenley chicken shop actually did okay for the cleanliness and condition of the shop. When inspectors visited in August 2018 they found it “generally satisfactory”.

But hygienic food handling was rated as having “improvement necessary”, while “urgent improvement” was required for their management of food safety.

We got in touch with the people at Chicken World but management declined to speak with us.

Delights Dessert House, High Street, Croydon

Although it is now closed due to the ongoing construction work in that area, Delights had two consecutive zero food-hygiene ratings, with one highlighting a mouse problem, before it shut.

In 2017 Delights, which sold a range of ice cream, warm puddings and milkshakes, was also told it “must carry out a deep clean” and “disinfect” shelving.

The report noted that the parlour, which sells a variety of ice creams and sweet snacks, had agreed to temporarily close while the problem was sorted.

However, just six and a half months after that damning report, the dessert spot has received yet another zero star rating from the FSA after an inspection which took place on May 26.

The report we obtained said there was “evidence of mouse activity throughout the premises”.

Hygienic food handling and the cleanliness of the restaurant both were deemed necessary for improvement.

Delights needed more urgent improvement to its management of food study, but it closed last

Fire and Slice, High Street, Croydon

Back in June this year, Fire and Slice in High Street was handed a zero rating out of a possible score of five by the Food Standards Agency.

A full report of the inspectors’ visit released through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request outlines the reason behind the terrible rating.

In the report the inspector wrote: “A lot of food was past its ‘use by’ date. This is a serious offence.

“A deep clean of the kitchen is required including all equipment, utensils and food containers.

“Date checking must improve, a 10-day shelf life for cooked food is not safe, it should be three days for all high risk foods unless specifically mentioned by managers.”

The restaurant opened in May last year, but is now closed.

Frontline Jerk Hut, Beulah Road, Thornton Heath

Major improvements were necessary at the Frontline Jerk Hut, but the Thornton Heath takeaway closed instead.

In April 2018, the Frontline Jerk Hut didn’t even manage to get any points on its rating and needed major improvements to the way it handled food and management of food safety.

The cleanliness and condition of the building needed improvement too, which might give a hint as to why it appears to have closed, as we could not get a hold of the old management.

Ju-ice & Shakes, Portland Road, South Norwood

Juice & Shakes in South Norwood failed its inspection spectacularly, needing major improvement in cleanliness and condition and management of food safety.

Croydon inspectors also told the management to improve hygienic food handling.

Since the May inspection, the juice bar appears to have been closed.

KK African Foods, Thornton Road, Thornton Heath

One of the managers at KK African Foods has said the store will close for good in a week or two.

The most urgent improvements were needed to management of food safety after the disastrous November 2017 inspection.

Cleanliness and conditions were also needing major improvement and they were told to get better at the hygienic handling of their food.

The manager admitted that the 2017 inspection was their last, but said he is closing the business at the moment.

“We are going to close very soon, probably about two weeks from now” he said this week.

Navaratna, South End, Croydon

Indian restaurant Navaratna in Croydon Town Centre needed to urgently improve its management of food safety and major improvement to cleanliness and condition.

Improvements are also necessary to hygienic food handling at the restaurant.

Another place last reviewed in November 2017, the restaurant did not answer any of our calls.

Morley’s, South End, Croydon

Morley’s and South London are synonymous but this town centre Morleys wasn’t quite what met the eye.

Morley’s told My London that the store had been operated using a similar logo but without an official licensing agreement.

That is to say, it isn’t really a Morley’s.

“It happens quite often, unfortunately,” a spokesman for the chicken empire said.

“The current owner was assigned the unit without permission from Morley’s to use the trademarks and goodwill.

“The owner was running the shop without a valid franchise agreement.

“After lengthy discussions and mediation, a suitable candidate has now been found and are currently in discussions to purchase the lease which should be completed within the next 4 weeks.

“It is unfortunate our brand has received negative press for the second time in the past 12 months due to this store.”

Reviewed this last September, the chicken shop got no stars in its inspection and was told major improvement was necessary to the way they handled food.

They were also told they must urgently improve hygienic food handling and management of food safety.

Peri Peri Bites, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath

In September, Croydon inspectors headed to Peri Peri Chicken Bites and left particularly unimpressed.

They asked for major improvements to be made to all the aspects assessed by the food hygiene officers.

The hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition and management of food safety were all not up to scratch.

We spoke with staff at Peri Peri Bites who said “we didn’t see anything like that” before declining to comment further.

Planet Pizza, Russell Hill Road, Purley

In September, Planet Pizza in Purley failed to meet the expectations of inspectors from Croydon Council.

The popular pizzeria needed major improvement in the cleanliness and condition of the eatery, while it needed to urgently improve its management of food safety.

Even for hygienic food handling, inspectors found the pizza place wanting.

Naser, the manager and owner says the store had a problem with its electrics, but “an electrician has been and fixed the problems” he told My London.

“He is sending me the certificates and I will send them to the council. I’m hoping someone can come in the next week or two so I can get my hygiene stars back”.

Roosters Point, Brighton Road, Purley

This Purley fried chicken spot has changed hands again, now becoming Roosters Point having been Rooster Spot for years and Chicken Cottage for years before that.

In what is likely to have been its first ever inspection, Roosters Point got a zero rating after being told they need major improvements to both hygienic food handling and management of food safety.

Although less dire, the cleanliness and condition of the building also needed attention, according to the Croydon inspectors.

The manager has been contacted for comment.

Rupali Ruchi, Brighton Road, South Croydon

Sticking with Brighton Road, this Indian restaurant had a pretty negative inspection in December 2017.

Croydon’s food inspectors felt that the restaurant needed major improvement to its cleanliness and management of food safety, and also improvements in it its hygienic food handling.

We weren’t able to get through to Rupali Ruchi for comment on their hygiene rating.

Stop By Jamaican Takeaway, London Road, Norbury

Stop By in Norbury was inspected in March 2018 and found to need urgent improvement in managing their food safety

The Caribbean eatery also needed major improvements to hygienic food handling, according to the Croydon Council food safety inspectors.

We spoke to the restaurant but nobody was available to comment on their food hygiene rating.

Surrey Street Fishmongers, Surrey Street, Croydon

Major improvements were deemed to be necessary across the board at Surrey Street Fishmongers, after a March 2018 inspection.

The nightmare inspection led to the overall zero grade, but the fishmonger performed just as badly in each category when inspectors visited.

Owner Sajid says the store was closed for renovations at the time inspectors visited.

“We had closed the store then for renovations and I don’t know why they did the inspection,” he said.

“We have put in a new suite, new displays, put in a new floor and it’s all clear now.

“I don’t know why they did it but it killed us, we had no business in the store. It’s very clean now people can come and have a look themselves.

“The hygiene rating nearly ruined us.”

The Cricketers, Shirley Road, Shirley

The popular Shirley pub The Cricketers was inspected in March last year, the cleanliness and condition were actually rated as “generally satisfactory”.

But that’s where the good news ended, as the pub still received an overall zero rating, thanks to urgent improvements inspectors felt were necessary in food safety management.

Paula Bucur, who co-owns the pub, told the Croydon Advertiser in April that she has been working hard to correct the problems.

“When they came, I was going through a hard time and we weren’t serving food, which I told the inspector,” Miss Bucur explained.

“I was told that I had a month to do a list of things to improve the hygiene rating, and then another inspection would be taking place.

“I have done a lot of hard work, and I think the inspector will be very pleased the next time she comes.”

However the hygiene rating has remained at zero because inspectors have not been back to visit, Paula said on Monday (January 21).

“I’m still waiting for them to come back down. I have all my certificates now so just waiting but they only do one visit a year.

“It’s not like they make an appointment. If I knew they were coming, for example next month, then I could relax.

“They tell me its a surprise inspection but I can pay £180 if I want my own.

“The pub is the cleanest it has been in the 18 months we have taken over it. We had other issues like parking problems with construction at the back but the customers are loyal.

“They can see all the hard work we put in and they haven’t been put off I mean we still aren’t doing food. We tried for two months in summer with a chef but it didn’t work out.

“I was so surprised when the inspection report came, I mean we closed the pub for four months and worked so hard to fix everything. We even got a five-star rating from the brewery.

“Anyway six hours in front of a PC and I had my certificate, we’re just waiting for a re-inspection really.”

TK Maxx, Whitehorse Lane, Broad Green

TK Maxx may be a fashion retailer, but plenty of people pick up the sweets and treats conveniently placed near the tills.

Bad news if you were doing that in April last year as mice had been gnawing at them, as well as defecating and urinating.

The report noted that there was an ongoing rodent infestation at the store, with signs it had been there for at least a month, and that the procedures in place to control pests were “inadequate”.

The report, sent to TK Maxx on May 1, said: “Food on display was contaminated by rodent urine and faeces and had been visibly gnawed. Food must be protected from contamination.”

“There was an active mouse infestation at the store resulting in mouse urine and faeces on shelving. These areas require cleaning and disinfection.”

The store was ordered to contact the inspector once the necessary work has been carried out in order for another inspection to take place.

TK Maxx says it has taken “corrective action” since the inspection, although last April’s inspection is still the most recent on public record.

A spokesperson for the American retailer said in June: “The safety of our customers and hygiene of our stores is important to us. We have taken corrective action in this store, and ensured that appropriate pest control procedures are in place going forward.”

Tropical Essentials, Central Parade, New Addington

The ethnic convenience store in New Addington has closed, a neighbouring shopkeeper confirmed, after having received a zero-star food hygiene rating in July last year.

Owners had been told to urgently improve its management of food safety as well as the cleanliness of the restaurant.

The hygienic food handling also needed major improvement to get back up to scratch, but before another inspection was carried out, the store closed.

From mylondon.com

by By Qasim Peracha

A new late-night venue featuring a 200,000-ball pit is set to open in central Croydon next month.

FunHouse, opening in late November, will also offer pool tables and beer pong, in addition to the two adult sized pits.

The ball-play will be sound tracked by DJs playing a mix of commercial and indie music in the two indoor areas

A menu featuring pizza and sharing buckets will also be available.

FunHouse will be open from 12pm to 2am daily.

The venue, run by Louise Sainsbury and Matt Johnson, will be based at 91-101 High Street, opposite Club 88 & Memory Box.

FROM croydonadvertiser @Andy worden

A south London fish and chip shop is in with a shot of being named the best in Britain.

The UK’s 20 best fish and chip shops were named earlier this week and among them is Olley’s Fish Experience, in Herne Hill.

The restaurant and takeaway just up the road from Crystal Palace is known for its gluten free fish and chips.

It is on the short-list for the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award, one of 14 categories in the 2019 National Fish & Chip Awards.

Organised by Seafish, the annual National Fish & Chip Awards is designed to recognise true excellence in the fish and chip industry.

These top 20 shops will now compete in two further rounds of judging in their quest to become the nation’s number one.

As part of the judging process, each shop is carefully assessed on a variety of elements including sustainable sourcing policies, menu development and innovation, staff training policies and processes and wider marketing and promotional activity and techniques – and the quality of fish and chips on offer and the levels of customer service provided by staff.

Over the coming weeks the shops will undergo a further phase of mystery diner judging inspections in order to whittle the top 20 down to a top 10, before the final stage of judging held in London in January 2019.

Continue reading