A Greek restaurant in Twickenham has been told that major improvement is necessary after a recent food hygiene inspection revealed a range of ongoing safety and cleanliness issues.

Orpheus Taverna, located at 369 Richmond Road, received a Food Hygiene Rating of 1 following an inspection by the Regulatory Services Partnership on behalf of Merton Council on 2 April 2025.

The findings, obtained by Twickenham Nub News through a Freedom of Information, request cited numerous legal breaches, including poor cooling practices, pest proofing issues, and a failure to maintain essential food safety documentation — several of which had been raised during previous inspections but were still not addressed.

Key Issues Identified at Orpheus Taverna:

• Cooked foods were being cooled over three to four hours, well beyond the safe time limits, with no evidence of corrective action despite previous warnings.
• Kitchen taps and ventilation systems were found dirty or not properly maintained.
• Broken equipment, including torn fridge seals and a faulty microwave, were still in use.
• Overstocked and cluttered storage areas, making safe food handling and cleaning difficult.
• Gaps in external doors allowed potential pest access.
• A gnawed trade waste bin lid rendered refuse storage non-compliant.

Inspectors also raised serious concerns about the restaurant's food safety management system, noting that the required Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) pack had not been fully completed and no temperature records were being maintained.

Additionally, some foods were undated in storage, and allergen and genetically modified (GM) ingredient information was either missing or incorrect — despite the restaurant using GM soya oil for frying.

The inspector stated: "This is the second time you have been advised about the lack of a suitable food safety management system at your premises.

"This is completely unacceptable and the reason why you have failed this inspection."

Several of the issues require immediate and ongoing attention, while other repairs and compliance checks must be completed within two to four weeks.

The Food Standard Agency rating is part of a national scheme intended to help consumers make informed choices about where they purchase food.

A rating of 1 means major improvement is necessary in order to meet acceptable food hygiene standards.

Orpheus Taverna has the right to appeal the rating and may request a re-inspection once improvements are made.

The restaurant has been approached for comment.