Glitch on Food Hygiene Website May Have Lost Restaurant Business

Birmingham City Council has issued an apology to Varanasi, an Indian restaurant in Broad Street, Birmingham, after a "glitch" on the council's food hygiene website displayed an incorrect rating for the establishment for nearly three months. The restaurant's score improved from 2 to 5 in March, but the updated rating was not uploaded to the Food Standards Agency website until June 13, after the issue was brought to the council's attention. During this time, the restaurant staff had to reassure guests and provide evidence of their new rating directly, and they believe they may have lost corporate business as a result.

Key Takeaways:

• Varanasi, an Indian restaurant in Broad Street, Birmingham, was incorrectly displayed on the Food Standards Agency website with a score of 2 (improvement necessary) for nearly three months despite receiving a maximum hygiene score of 5 (very good) in March.
• The restaurant's staff had to reassure guests and provide evidence of their new rating directly during the period when the incorrect rating was displayed.
• The Birmingham City Council apologized to Varanasi and stated that the issue was caused by a glitch in their system.
• The council is working with their system provider to identify the cause of the glitch and ensure it doesn't happen again.
• Varanasi director Mohammed Hussain believes the issue may have resulted in a loss of corporate business for the restaurant.
• The restaurant also mentioned that Johnny Depp's private meal at Varanasi in 2022, where he spent almost £50,000, was marred by the incorrect rating display.

Statistics:

• The time period during which the incorrect rating was displayed on the Food Standards Agency website: nearly three months.
• The number of times Varanasi staff asked the council to update the score: several times.
• The Google reviews rating of Varanasi: 4.4 out of 5.
• The amount of money spent by Johnny Depp during his private meal at Varanasi: almost £50,000.

Sources:

• Birmingham Post (June 12)
• Varanasi restaurant, interview with director Mohammed Hussain
• Food Standards Agency website
• Google reviews of Varanasi