HEALTH officers found flies around food and a Portaloo being used at a café inside a Didcot entertainment arcade.

Arcade Didcot, in Broadway, Didcot, was hit with a one-star hygiene rating despite staff saying it was due to ongoing building work at the premises on the day of the inspection.

The inspector found 'numerous flies' in the kitchen. "This poses risk of food contamination," the report read. 

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It added: "Keep kitchen clean and keep kitchen door closed...the position of the fly screen above the work surface increases risk of physical contamination and must be moved within seven days".

The WC, which was a portaloo, was 'unsuitable as it is not connected to the main drainage system and is not provided with hand wash facilities'.

"A staff toilet, suitably constructed and connected to the main drainage system must be provided, ensure you have an adequate supply of running hot water to the wash hand basin," the report read.

Facilities for washing food and equipment were 'inadequate', according to the findings.

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At the time of inspection, only a domestic size 1.5 bowl sink was provided and owners were told to provide 'as a minimum a commercial dish washer with fast wash cycle and deep bowl 1.5 sink'.

Grease was 'evident' on the filters and canopy, requiring 'more frequent cleaning'.

Several drainage issues were found by inspectors.

The drain from the kitchen sink was discharging onto the ground outside, in the cellar, water was collected into a plastic container, and water had accumulated on the floor.

In the bar area, there was no wash hand basin and sink and the floor covering did not extend beneath the shelves.

Owners were told the counter, bar and shelves must be finished so as to be easy to clean as "currently the timber is not cleanable and risks splinter injuries," said inspectors.

And in the rear yard 'accumulations of waste and an overflowing bin was evident'.

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"I'm concerned that the size of the kitchen is inadequate to cater with the nature and extent of catering," said the South and Vale environmental health inspector.

Food business operator Jason Lyon said the report was 'not justified'.

He said: "We were open for takeaway only and collect. We had the kitchen and a podium for takeaway only.

"However this site is an entertainment site and all of the other elements of the business were literally still being built.

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"They were reporting on elements that were nothing to do with the business that was operating at the time."

South Oxfordshire and Vale district councils any business that is open, trading and selling food can receive a food hygiene inspection. 

Environmental Health officers are required to inspect the premises as they find it and the same rules apply to all food premises regardless of whether building work is completed or not.