Inspectors found 43-day-old food, filthy surfaces, and accumulated rubbish during a July 4 inspection of Rio Lounge, an Indian restaurant at 162-164 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon. The Croydon Council food safety team subsequently issued the restaurant a hygiene rating of 0, the lowest possible score, according to an inspection report obtained by Your Local Guardian through a Freedom of Information request.
The out-of-date food was discovered in a fridge, labeled with a date of May 22. When inspectors visited, that meant the food was 43 days past the date on the label. The report also noted that the restaurant's floor was cracked in several areas, with food debris built up across it, preventing effective cleaning and maintenance.
Deep Clean Required and Pest Risks Identified
The inspection report stated that the restaurant needed a “thorough deep clean and disinfection of the entire premises.” The back external area was poorly maintained, with an accumulation of rubbish that inspectors said increased the “risk of pest ingress.” Inside, the hand-washing basin was found to be “dirty and contaminated with food debris build-up,” and inspectors instructed the restaurant to disinfect it and maintain it in a clean condition.
Structural defects and other premises issues were also flagged as needing attention to prevent further pest ingress. The restaurant's ventilation system came under scrutiny, with inspectors finding filters that were “heavily greasy” and noting that oil had been observed. The report said the restaurant's food safety procedures needed to be reviewed and implemented according to the business's needs, and that existing food safety paperwork was not suitable to properly reflect those needs.
Training Gaps and Immediate Closure
Food hygiene training was another concern. Inspectors said refresher training in food hygiene and safety was needed for all food handlers. The restaurant agreed to a deep clean and other measures following the inspection. The inspection report said the premises had agreed to close with immediate effect because of an “imminent risk to public health.”
The restaurant was told it would need to remain closed until the required measures had been completed and the premises had been deemed safe. This puts Rio Lounge as Croydon's worst-rated restaurant in terms of hygiene. Your Local Guardian contacted Rio Lounge for a comment but did not receive a response.
