Burgers decomposed to a level unfit for human consumption was among the issues that led to a Leyland eatery being told major improvement is necessary.

Chesters, on Golden Hill Lane in Leyland, was hit with a one hygiene rating (out of five) after an inspection in May 2024. 

Environmental health officers from South Ribble Borough Council visited the premises and found a number of issues. 

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Documents obtained by Blog Preston show that as well as finding raw burgers that had deteriorated, drinks were being stored in the rear yard, the pizza ingredients chiller was operating at too high a temperature, the premises required a deep clean, no food safety management system was in place and there was no evidence staff had undertaken recent food hygiene training to a sufficient level. 

Visible grease was noted by inspectors on walls, units, fridge doors and hand wash basin. 

Three recommendations were given to Chesters Chicken in the report which included implementing a cleaning schedule, staff handling high-risk foods to undertake formal refresher training every three years and any staff suffering from food poisoning symptoms excluded from handling food for 48 hours. 

South Ribble Borough Council’s environmental health officers would typically revisit eateries to ensure changes had been made to allow businesses to continue trading. 

However, these visits would not result in an improved food hygiene rating at that time and the business would instead need to apply for a formal reinspection which the council is required to carry out within three months of the application. 

Blog Preston contacted Chesters for comment but received no response by the time of publication.

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