Decaying short ribs, mouldy pipes and a poor standard of hygiene have all been found at the popular Sloop Inn in Wootton.
The Sloop, a Stonehouse group-owned pizza restaurant and carvery, was inspected last month by the Isle of Wight Council’s Environmental Health officers, who found improvement was necessary – scoring it a 2 out of 5.
A Sloop Inn spokesperson said they were disappointed to receive the rating and have acted on the feedback.
The inspector’s report found issues at the Wootton Bridge eatery, including concerns over the way meat was being checked in the carvery area; failure to implement the front-of-house cleaning schedule; flaky ceiling paint in the kitchen; and damaged flooring in the pizza area.
Inspectors also raised questions about the validity of records, after they were informed of errors in entries and saw inconsistencies.
Overall, the general standard of hygiene was poor, with inspectors finding:
- Old decaying spare ribs in the sauce station cupboard and an old container with dried sauce, which showed ‘the area had not been cleaned for a considerable period of time’;
- A ‘very dirty’ drinks station which needed a ‘full deep clean’ around the work surfaces and walls where the paint had become dirty and stained, the inside of the cupboard was also dirty;
- The area behind the main bar was dirty and had not been cleaned ‘for a considerable time’ and ‘needed a deep clean’ as mould was showing on the outside of the drinks pipes;
- Kitchen air vents were dirty and dusty, as was the skylight;
- Wheels on the carvery ovens had a build-up of food debris and grease as well as other kitchen equipment;
- The floor of the walk-in freezer was black with dirt in large areas and food was being stored on the floor;
- The floor of the vegetable store was dirty and there was an area showing mould;
- The drain in the cellar was dirty with old food;
- A small amount of mould inside the ice machine;
- The hot holding unit had old food debris on the underneath of the light fittings;
- A fryer was said to be out of use but there was a pool of oil underneath;
- Objects preventing easy access to the wash hand basin in the kitchen.
Responding to the report, a spokesperson for The Sloop Inn said they are committed to operating at the highest standards and have acted on the concerns raised, principally around the record-keeping and improving kitchen equipment.
The pub said it would welcome the opportunity for a re-inspection, at the earliest opportunity.
Oh my word!
It’s always had the reputation of the sloppy sloop, I guess it’s reputation supersedes it’s self!
I once had a nice baguette there and was telling everyone, it’s not that bad, it’s quite nice… but if basic common sense cleaning cannot kick in then not one pub, restaurant or Cafe deserves to be open.
And for all hospitality food venues, note this rule of thumb… if the toilets don’t meet standards then the kitchen is the same!! Say no more !!!!!
I wonder how many private homes would also fail these inspections, instead of publicly trying to destroy a business and force it’s closure (Council will loose big time on rates etc) Why don’t inspectors just enforce improvements and re inspect within 24hrs ?. It could now be months till reinspected. Won’t stop me eating there .
I understand your point that in some homes, people’s hygiene or safe storage of cooked and raw foods would not meet standards. But the point is your not paying to eat at their homes!
People work hard for their wages and when they treat themselves to a meal out, they don’t deserve to be put at risk of food poisoning that could lead to time off work to recover, plus the lasting effects such as IBS and food intolerance.
I agree for inspectors to return sooner. But it needs to be closed for a complete deep clean.
At the end of the day it’s in the managers interest to put things right, it’s not down to the public to keep it going regardless.
Indeed, I can see both Freddie’s and your point but I went there last year and on one occasion I was I’ll from food poisoning from a breakfast a had there, it didn’t stop me I mean where else can you get a all you can eat for their price! I didn’t say anything but instead went for my monthly fry up. I also well know that inspectors tend to over catastrophise because well there inspectors and they kinda have too so I think on the note of one having an inspection 24hrs is fine another spot inspection should take place within 6 months to show its still acting on advice. Problem with I lnpections is there not consistent enough, every 3 years isnt good enough
Looks like those cheap carvery’s will be even cheaper now! Get in!!
Hey Querty your right ,if it’s cheap it’s cheap for a reason ,there’s no such thing as a free / cheap nice lunch
Should be shut down NOW ,theres no excuse for dirtyness ,except lazyness
i went inside there kitchen that put me off i don’t think the floor had been washed that week. i always call it slop in.
I’ve been in there to and had job to stay upright on the greasy floor ,,no kidding either
Disgusting but why not shut it down, so they can still serve food and poison people needs shutting down ASAP
“Responding to the report, a spokesperson for The Sloop Inn said they are committed to operating at the highest profits..”
Another poo hole to the collection on the iow.. should of put that on the jewel of the south..
Another outlet on the list of places I won’t be going.
Every time someone mentions the Sloop or the House of Spice and many others, the lack of hygiene will come to mind.
That’s rank I eat at this place not now though.
It’s not known as the Sloppy Sloop for nothing!
Vote with your feet and wallet…
Eat at home that way you know what you are getting !!!!
2 many establishments, getting away with no or low standards,…
No excuses for filth and grime ..
Shut them down …
Never been to their establishment as always looks grotty and this inspection confirms I never will
OMG!! No wonder my daughter felt ill afterwards:( how vile!
In retrospect a couple of the staff never looked very clean behind the carvery come to think of it.
Must’ve been laughing in our faces as we queued up for food poisoning! Close it, they have made enough money out of decent families for a long time. Elderly and kids could’ve been seriously injured here. No pity what so ever, same as that chicken place. Never again!! Could’ve killed my elderly parent, so cross!
When I worked in hospitality, nobody left the building at closing time, we all mucked in and got the place clean ready for the next day..even the youngsters. Then it was a few drinks across the road to wind down !
It doesn’t sound good I wont be going there again.