10 takeaways in Oldham have been ordered to close after they failed routine food hygiene inspections and potentially “put residents at risk”.
Oldham Council explained that Environmental Health officers regularly visit premises – including takeaways, restaurants, and other sites where food is prepared – across the borough to check they are up to standard, and while the majority are found to be clean and are maintained to a good standard, unfortunately, a small number don’t meet this standard.
At some of the takeaways ordered to close, Council staff found “uncontrolled pest infestations” – including mice and cockroaches – and droppings were even discovered on surfaces and food wrapping material.
This meant that the food customers ate “could have been contaminated”, the Council said.
All of the businesses were immediately closed, Oldham Council confirmed, and they will remain shut until they have been re-inspected and food hygiene standards have improved.
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As investigations are ongoing and further legal action could take place. the businesses cannot be named at this stage.
10 takeaways in Oldham have been ordered to close after they failed routine food hygiene inspections / Credit: HungryHouse
“The council never wants to close a business and stop people earning a wage, especially at a time when money is very tight,” explained Councillor Jean Stretton – Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Oldham Council.
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“But our officers found these places were dirty and unhealthy.
“If we had failed to act, then people could have become ill due to the conditions food was being served in – and we aren’t prepared to let that happen. Food businesses must be clean and adhere to food hygiene laws and we’ll take action against the ones that don’t.”
Cllr Stetton added that any food business owners in the borough needing advice should get in touch for Environmental Health officers’ help, and if residents know of any food premises that are dirty and unclean, they should be reported.
Oldham Council is also urging all food businesses to employ a professional pest control company, keep their premises clean, and carry out their own hygiene checks.
Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
“This is our way of saying thank you to our colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.”
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Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week
Emily Sergeant
Who says breakfast has to end at 11am?
In news that’s set to be music to the ears of breakfast lovers in Manchester, Greggs is giving them exactly what they want.
We all know that brunch is a ‘thing’ by now, so now it’s time for brinner to make a name for itself instead, as Greggs has teamed up with Heinz to bring its much-loved breakfast menu back for tea time, kicking off from 4pm onwards.
The move comes as a new survey has found that the majority of Mancs (69%) admit to enjoying eating breakfast food in the evening, saying it’s ‘convenient and comforting’ – even ranking breakfast as a ‘more important’ meal than tea, as well (38% vs 36%).
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week / Credit: Greggs (Supplied)
Greggs says it has ‘lost count’ of the amount of customers that have tried to order breakfast items after the usual cut-off time, especially in Greater Manchester.
But luckily for those breakfast-loving Mancs, they can finally get their favourite breakfast and sauce pairing long after the morning rush is over next… but only at two Greggs branches, and only for a very limited time.
On Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October, the Heinz x Greggs Brinner collab will be available at Greggs St Mary’s Gate and Greggs Oxford Road, from 4-7pm only.
“We’ve lost count of the number of customers who have tried their luck ordering breakfast after 11am, so when Heinz came to us with the idea of making Brinner a reality, it felt like the perfect excuse to give the people what they want,” explained Zoe Harris, who is the Customer Director at Greggs.
“And let’s be honest, a Greggs Bacon Roll just wouldn’t be the same without a squeeze of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.”
Emily Sergeant -
15th August 2022 
