Imagine biting into a slice of pizza or a juicy kebab, only to realize the place you ordered from scored a zero on its food hygiene inspection—not once, but twice. That’s exactly what happened to Asmin Pizza & Kebab in Swindon, a takeaway joint that found itself at the center of a food safety storm. But here’s where it gets interesting: after two consecutive failing scores, the eatery has finally turned things around—or has it? And this is the part most people miss: even after urgent improvements were demanded, the road to redemption hasn’t been as smooth as the owners might have hoped.
Located at 15 Rodbourne Road, Asmin Pizza & Kebab first made headlines in February 2023 when food safety officers handed it the lowest possible hygiene rating. At the time, it was the worst-rated takeaway in Swindon, a title no business wants to claim. A surprise re-inspection in August 2023 revealed that little had changed, and the establishment was slapped with another zero. But fast forward to January 27, 2024, and the takeaway has managed to climb its way up to a rating of three—a score that labels it 'generally satisfactory.' But is that enough?
After the second zero rating, owner Krishna Pala attributed the failure to an unexpected boiler issue. 'The boiler was working fine, but the fuse blew just as the inspectors walked in,' Krishna explained. 'It was pure bad luck. We had hot water earlier, but we didn’t realize the switch was broken until it was too late.' This wasn’t the first time the boiler had been a problem; during the initial inspection, officials had warned that it wasn’t sufficient for the business’s needs. Since then, Krishna claims they’ve upgraded to a larger boiler and installed a backup hot water tank. 'Even in your own home, these things can suddenly stop working,' Krishna added, emphasizing the unpredictability of the situation.
But here’s where it gets controversial: While the boiler issue was a major factor, inspectors also flagged a safety concern over a broken spatula used to cut doner meat. 'We threw it away immediately,' Krishna said. 'Apart from that, there were no major issues.' However, some might argue that even one safety hazard is one too many, especially in a food establishment. Krishna insists they’ve taken cleanliness and cross-contamination seriously, aiming for a hygiene rating of five. 'The least I could expect is a four,' he added.
Currently, Asmin Pizza & Kebab holds a 3.4 rating on Google and a 3.7 on Uber Eats, suggesting customers have mixed feelings about the place. So, here’s the question: Does a rating of three truly reflect a 'generally satisfactory' business, or should food hygiene standards be non-negotiable? And how much leeway should we give businesses that face unexpected technical failures? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to heat up faster than a freshly cooked pizza.
