Stanford Chat

[VICTOR]

this weeks paper Warns people of 74 eating places in Oxfordshire where food hygiene has been classed as 'unacceptable' by council inspectors. Locally THE ANCHOR, USA CHICKEN FARINGDON,ALFREDS HEAD WANTAGE, FARINGDON COFFEE HOUSE, FARINGDON KEBAB VAN, and PEKING CHEF GROVE are all named and shamed. All have apparently received a written warning and some an enforcement notice to improve or face court action.
www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk
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Planet VM

[DM]

[VICTOR]

Two stars and above seems pretty good. 1 star means low standard and general failure No stars like the Anchor means Almost total non-compliance with their obligations !!! If you click on the establishment on the website you can click on the various areas of the report.
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Planet VM

[JSi2]

I had a great meal recently (May09) in the Anchor.
Before we destroy the Anchor, when was their inspection?? This landlord or the previous??
Personally I prefer the H&J but it's great to have an alternative.

[VICTOR]

9th June 2008 (amended thanks Lala) - Food Hygiene Bad - Little confidence in management.
Add to that the complaints of locals - including some regulars - about attitude and I think it is indefensible.
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Planet VM

[lala]

date on vale of white horse website is 9th june 2008.......

probably when previous landlord held the chair?.

No surprise at result if so considering ..?

Best to be accurate with these things?

[Nippo]

We think it is highly irresponsible for people to judge on old data. The premises were under a completely different management when this report was written. Our experiences have always been that the Anchor is now first rate for its food.

[VICTOR]

Emotive stuff Nippo but the Anchor has always been a 'spit and sawdust' pub serving a few loyal locals like yourself. The return of the pool table will keep it that way. There seems to be a contradiction in 'has always been' and 'is now'. Six months is it?
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Planet VM

[Mr T]

Victor its not emotive stuff from Nippo just reasoned unlike your rather 'black and white' view of the world in which you orbit.

It's all very well criticising a small business - and you know what mate? its the easiest thing in the world to sit back and with a warm internal smugness ... just criticise and observe from afar. Setting up a small business, running it, and trying to keep as many people coming back whilst introducing new customers, and keeping costs down is a massive challenge.

Yes, the infamous pool table disappeared (people GET OVER IT or seek counselling) but from memory the previous owner never made a penny with the pool table there and the pub became the bastion of a few die-hards with little new blood. Thats great if you enjoy pool (as I used to in my youth) but those same people werent bringing the pub the regular higher-end (food-related) income that it needed. The bottom line for a small business is .. the bottom line never lies

The naming and shaming hygiene points score was undertaken over a year ago, and it shows events at one point in time. To put this in perspective (not something which unfortunately is done on here much) The Duck at Bray, one of the worlds most celebrated high-end cullinery establishments, recently had a health scare and was voluntarily closed for a while and yet it scores the highest rating in every catagory devised by man.

Before we all start shouting "burn the witch, burn the witch" perhaps we all need to be a little more understanding of the challenges and difficulties faced by our local businesses, and be a little more tolerant.

[VICTOR]

I agree but the bottom line is it is becoming a dead duck not a fat duck in the real world. I can understand trying to hang on to it but as you say it needs new blood and the landlord isn't going to get it by having a bad attitude to those higher spending locals who aren't the frugal regulars, closing early and serving poor Sunday lunches. Bringing the pool table back indicates the landlord has given up trying and is supposedly leaving soon anyway.
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Planet VM

[alfiec]

Thanks for letting us know, we have recently been to the kebab van in faringdon and wondered what happened to it.

[Yew Bewty]

I read this stream of messages with a heavy heart at the way some find it so easy to run down the amenities in our village.

VICTOR it astounds me that you can be so irresponsible as to quote facts that are quite clearly irrelevant to the present day. I would suggest if you have nothing constructive or factual to say, you refrain from saying anything at all. Looking at various posts you have on here it is obvious that you have not had good experiences at The Anchor and seem to have something against of pool. You are more than welcome to you opinion and to voice your it, off course you are, but what you are doing here smacks to me as some kind of vendetta. Have you considered they might not be looking for your custom.

It is safe to say I am not The Anchors number one fan myself as I don't really agree with the way they run and chose not to frequent the establishment. However I am not pompous enough to assume that the locals of our great village cannot draw there own conclusions. Even though as I say I don't use the Anchor I do feel it is very important that there remains two places in the village to dine out. If there were only one where would the drive to keep standards high??????

For the record, although I have not eaten there myself all accounts I have heard of the food in The Anchor since the new management have been very complimentary.

[VICTOR]

I think the original post was justified, yours breaches rule one and should be amended. It is good that we know places that are below standard when so many people eat out nowadays. It was one year old in the Anchor's case but not 'clearly irrelevant as the building hasn't changed significantly. People will make up their own minds. There is no 'vendetta' just a differing point of view. Try Sunday lunch and then give an HONEST opinion not clouded by the dream of an ideal world.
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Planet VM

[Qdex44]

Whilst the 'scores on the doors' scheme is a great idea, I note that businesses cannot actively request an inspection:

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/environment/scores-on-the-doors.cfm

[DM]

[VICTOR]

I agree, it is unfair and people have to judge for themselves when they visit. I think the 5 star is a bit too far but I get the point. I wonder why they don't get rid of those awful old tubs/pots outside the front and put tables and chairs or picnic benches there so at least you can sit down when you visit. Perhaps its the slope but they could counter that.
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Planet VM

[Yew Bewty]

VICTOR, I concede you are entitled to your somewhat slanted different point of view. However you negative view, is exactly that, YOUR negative view. If you don't like the place then simply do as I do and avoid. The negative drivel you post on here is uncalled for and certainly will not helping the current owners to attract new custom and thereafter be able to improve the establishment.

I have a question, do you have some connection with a local competitor as I see no other reason for you to continually berate the place. A good place to start towards this dream of an ideal world you talk about will be to live and let live.

[VICTOR]

I have no conection with any other establishment. I have my preferences locally i.e Blue Boar longworth, Chequers charney, Trout tadpole bridge, or the jockey if I don't want to drive. Re your comment on Two places to keep standards high, it is already documented that I would prefer both village pubs to survive but they are different styles and do not compete as such. The only way to keep standards up is to speak out, however unpopular it may be to the proletariat, when things are clearly wrong. The publican needs to work harder on communication skills and not be unwelcoming to those who aren't regulars if he wants to succeed.
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Planet VM

[Victory]

I think Victor is misunderstood in all this. And has many valid viewpoints.
I have been to the both village pubs and had good and bad experiences.

I prefer to get out there and sample rather than passing judgement on everything. Opinions are fine, keep it coming

[DM]

Hi "victory" aka Ian/Carol (again),

What are you up to? Supporting yourself against Victor on the other thread, but supporting Victor on this one... most odd.

Can you stick to one account per person please?

[DM]

An interesting article on the topic of "Scoors on the Doors".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-10700180

[ARC]

Just checked the Faringdon Coffee House - it scored 3 stars

[DM]