You Heard It Here First. Unfortunately

New Leaf fined thousands for hygiene offences

In my review of the New Leaf I suggested it could do with turning over one, having walked out after the starter. And it looks like I was right - the food might just have been on turn!

Jade Ealing Ltd which owns the New Leaf in Bond Street, Ealing, faces a £6,000 fine after the company’s director Lian Chen pleaded guilty to four food hygiene offences at Acton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 26 February. Jade Ealing Ltd was also ordered to pay £383 court costs.

An Ealing Council spokesperson said Chen was hauled before the court after food hygiene inspectors visited the restaurant twice in September and found thick black grease on the floor, staff dressed in dirty overalls and uncovered food lying around dirty work surfaces.

Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Vlod Barchuk, said: "People pay good money to eat out and it is totally unacceptable that they could be served food that could make them ill.  Restaurateurs need to know that we will take action if they flout the law and I’m pleased the court has handed down such a hefty fine."

The New Leaf was awarded no stars in the Scores on the Doors Scheme, where restaurants are awarded zero to five stars on food hygiene by local authority inspectors.

In its flier, New Leaf describes itself as Ealing's oldest restaurant, there for more than 30 years. This isn't strictly true, according to local resident, John Clayton. "Yes it was the best Chinese restaurant by far in it's first 30 years in Ealing," said John. " However the current owners have nothing to do with that restaurant. The original New Leaf family retired from Ealing and the new people asked if they could retain the old menu. However they claim they have been in business 30 plus years which is not true. I'm not sure why or how they can do this."

Charlie Canniff

March 5, 2009