Food Hygiene, Government U-Turn, Cheese Festival & More
Happy Tuesday everyone and a massive welcome to all our new subscribers. I really hope you enjoy the daily read as subscribers now receive 7 - YES SEVEN FREE newsletters every week.
Its been a quiet weekend news wise however a very sad one for a Newark family.
Todays Quote for the day - "I am not young enough to know everything." — Oscar Wilde
Enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great day wherever you are in Bassetlaw.
Justin Doddy, Editor
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter if you haven't already and remember to send us your pictures from around Bassetlaw, we may feature it on our newsletter.
‘Handbrake U-turn’ on major shake-up of Nottinghamshire councils
By: Lauren Monaghan, LDRS
Nottinghamshire politicians are divided over the pausing of a major shake-up to councils and the city, with some saying they are “frustrated” while others are calling it a “victory”.
Nottinghamshire had been heading for its largest boundary shake-up in 50 years following the Labour Government’s announcement in December 2024 for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
However Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, announced on Monday (September 7) that the plan will now be paused by officials following new legal advice.
May’s 2027 local elections will also go ahead on existing boundaries.
LGR had meant that by 2028 places like Nottinghamshire would have their multiple councils re-shaped and merged to create new unitary authorities, abolishing the two-tier local government structure in some areas, which sees council services split between lower and upper-tier authorities.
In July, the Government confirmed its decision for Nottinghamshire, where sections of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe would be merged with Nottingham to form one unitary and a second unitary authority would cover the rest of the county.
The plans had been subject to criticism since being announced, with concerns the LGR process was being ‘rushed’ through and for potential service impacts, local representation and the public consultation itself.
Three of Nottinghamshire’s councils had even floated a judicial review attempt on the LGR decision, which involves a judge reviewing the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body. This can only be launched to challenge the way a decision was made, rather than the rights and wrongs of a decision.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s previous effort, jointly with Broxtowe Borough Council, to appoint a lawyer to assess whether a judicial review on the decision had a “potential to succeed” concluded an application for review was more likely to fail than to succeed.
In late August, the Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council wrote to the government to seek clarification on the basis for its LGR decision for the county, issuing a ‘Pre-Action Protocol’ letter – this is a procedural step that can iron out any problems before considering further legal proceedings.
Now, England’s LGR will be paused, with Ms Rayner telling the House of Commons she wanted to “satisfy [herself] that the process was robust and legally sound” and that she has “dotted every I and crossed every T” during it.
Michael Payne, Gedling’s Labour MP, told Ms Rayner that she “should know listening and pausing is a sign of strength” and not a weakness.
Nottinghamshire politicians have expressed mixed reviews on the news.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Rushcliffe Borough Council leader, Neil Clarke (Con) said it was “excellent news” for Rushcliffe.
He said:
“The government has performed not just a U-turn, but what I would call a handbrake U-turn, a screeching handbrake U-turn.
“If they review this, it’s going to take well into next year, [potentially] beyond the date of when the new councils are set up, starting to get into general election territory and a then new government which I would expect would not want to continue with it anyway.”
Gedling Borough and County Councillor, Sam Smith (Con), leader of the opposition on the county authority, called the pause a “fantastic victory”.
He said:
“It’s a massive victory for social care, greenbelt land, rural bus connections and is a result of Conservative lobbying, with residents who signed our petitions.
“The Conservatives have been calling this process and gerrymandering a stitch-up since day one.”
Labour leader of Gedling Borough Council, John Clarke, told the LDRS he was “really frustrated”, saying he and officers had spent a “significant” amount of time working on LGR for Gedling.
He said:
“Plus the tens of thousands we’ve spent on it, I’m absolutely baffled, it’s another U-turn.
“Somebody [in government] has got it seriously wrong – how many councils could go bankrupt from this?
“First the wind’s blown one way, now it’s blowing the other way – can someone please get hold of the ruddy?… They’ve come in again at short notice, we should have been told this before.”
Nottinghamshire County Council leader, Mick Barton (Ref), who has recently indicated the authority would consider a judicial review by issuing the ‘Pre-Action’ letter said his authority is going to continue on that process until details on the pause are given.
He said: “I want to know what pause means. I’ve written two letters [previously] to [Angela Rayner] – she hasn’t answered any of my points.”
He said the authority has a 90-day window to put in for judicial review once he receives response from the Pre-Action letter, adding: “Until I get it officially told by Angela Rayner [of the pause length], that’s where I am. I’m writing to her first thing tomorrow morning of how long the pause means.”
Broxtowe Borough Council leader, Milan Radulovic (Brox Alliance), welcomed the pause in LGR and said:
“It needs a proper needs-based assessment, not gerrymandering of boundaries for political gain.”
Broxtowe Borough Councillor, David Watts (Lib Dem), said his group welcomed the pause, saying in a statement LGR was a “rushed and ill-considered idea”.
He said:
“LGR may be necessary but it should be based on what communities want and not just a process imposed from the top down.
“This is a mess entirely of the government’s making and whilst we welcome the decision to now pause the process we call on the government to refund the money already wasted and ensure that local government is properly funded going forward.”
Nottingham city’s leader, Cllr Neghat Khan, added:
“I’ll be having discussions with colleagues and will be putting a statement out. I think it is really important not to forget why LGR was happening.
“For us in the city we are a unitary but we know we’ve got tight boundaries and it is really important to look at how we grow from that. Government is talking about targets around housing and the rest of it, and the city has got a track record of delivery, but we have been really clear the boundary is too tight and we need space to grow.
“We will need to have discussions to understand implications because [Angela Rayner] refers to it as a ‘pause’, a ‘rapid review’, so we have got to understand what all of that means.”
At least eight councils have launched, or were considering launching, legal challenges over their LGR decisions, opposing the government’s choice of boundaries for the new unitary authorities.
The pause includes 14 other areas LGR plans in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been withdrawn following the new legal advice.
Decisions for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and West Sussex, have not yet been made, with these areas being considered alongside the wider review.
THE ANNUAL CHEESE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE WELBECK ESTATE
The historic 15,000-acre Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire – the home of Stichelton Cheese - has announced it will host its second Welbeck Cheese Festival on Saturday 26 September 2026 from 11am to 4pm.
Held in the Courtyard at Welbeck, this free-to-attend community event is organised in conjunction with renowned cheesemonger Neal's Yard Dairy, offering an unmissable chance for local food lovers to sample a variety of artisan cheeses from across the country.
The festival brings together a rare industry-style experience directly to the public, gathering nine of Britain's legendary cheesemakers (and an Italian) in one location: events of this nature usually only take place in London.
Now, local visitors will have the unique opportunity to meet the faces behind the UK's most celebrated cheesemakers and cheesemongers, sample award-winning cheeses, and purchase some of the UK’s best farm-made cheeses directly from the makers.
Among those in attendance will be Otto Mead (Cornish Yarg and Cornish Kern), Joe Schneider (Stichelton), Tim Jones (Lincolnshire Poacher), and Selina Errington (Blackmount, Elrick Log and Corra Linn).
Oliver Stubbins, Director and General Manager of the Welbeck Farm Shop says:
"Come for the cheese, stay for the stories, and celebrate the best of British artisan tradition. This unique festival offers a rare occasion to taste, learn from, and purchase directly from the UK’s finest cheesemakers in an atmosphere rich with flavour and community."
In addition to world-class cheese tastings, the event will feature local refreshments, including draft ales from the Estate’s own Welbeck Abbey Brewery.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday 26 September 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Location: The Courtyard at Welbeck, Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire
- Admission: Free entry (no tickets or pre-booking required)
- Parking: Free on-site parking (no pre-booking required)
- Accessibility: Well-behaved dogs are welcome to join the outside market but must be kept on a short lead.
The Welbeck Estate is also home to a growing community of artisan food producers.
Highlights include the renowned Welbeck Farm Shop, which sells estate-reared meat and game, raw milk and the celebrated Stichelton blue cheese, and the delicious fayre at the Harley Cafe. Enjoy bread from the Welbeck Bakehouse, tastings at Welbeck Abbey Brewery, or tours and cocktail classes at DropWorks Distillery, the UK’s largest rum distillery.
Foodies can also explore Welbeck's Victorian Kitchen Garden on a rare behind-the-scenes 2-hour kitchen garden tour learning about vegetable and flowers and picking up tips on gardening and cooking seasonal (selected dates).
For more information, visit The Welbeck Estate (welbeck.co.uk)
DISCOVER THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF RETFORD
Thanks to Bassetlaw District Council, residents and visitors have a fantastic opportunity to explore some of Retford’s most fascinating historic buildings as part of Retford Heritage Open Day on Saturday 12th September
Several iconic Retford buildings that are not usually open to the public will be welcoming visitors for FREE tours throughout the day. Take a look inside:
🔹 Trinity Hospital
🔹 Sloswicke’s Almshouses, Churchgate
🔹 Retford Masonic Hall
⏰ Tours start from 10am and there is no need to book - simply turn up and enjoy discovering more of Retford’s rich heritage.
There’s even more to explore across Retford, with a range of venues taking part, including:
🎭 Majestic Theatre
📚 Denman Library
🏺 Bassetlaw Museum
🎨 Retford Arts Hub
⛪ Grove Street Methodist Church
⛪ St Swithun’s Church
⛪ St Michael’s Church
⛪ St Joseph’s Catholic Church
📍 Visit the Retford Civic Society information stall on Carolgate on 12th September to pick up a leaflet and find out more about the day’s activities.
Further details can be found on the Retford Heritage Open Day Facebook Page.
Celebrate the stories, architecture and heritage that make Retford such a special place. A great day out for all ages!
Content courtesy of Bassetlaw District Council
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: The eight Nottinghamshire businesses with a 0 food hygiene rating
By: Joseph Connolly, LDRS
It was as recently as 2010 that the government introduced its food hygiene ratings system.
But since then, the ratings have become a vital tool in holding businesses to high standards and helping consumers choose where they want to eat.
A five out of five rating means standards are “very good”, with four being “good” and three meaning “generally satisfactory”, according to the Food Standards Agency.
Below that, improvement is required. A two-star rating indicates “some” improvement is necessary, one star indicates “major” improvement needed, and a zero – the worst rating – means “urgent” improvement is “required”.
Anywhere that supplies or sells food, or where food is consumed, is given a rating.
This includes restaurants, pubs, cafes, takeaways, food vans, food stalls, canteens, hotels, supermarkets, other food shops, schools, hospitals and care homes.
Inspections, which are undertaken by a food hygiene officer, are unannounced.
They are focused on three areas:
- Hygienic food handling, which includes preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage
- Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, which includes the building’s layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control, in order to enable good food hygiene
- Management of food safety, which includes a system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer having confidence that standards will be maintained in future
Most businesses have good scores, with 97% in the UK achieving a rating of three or higher, and 78% having a five out of five score.
Across Nottinghamshire, there are just eight places which were given a rating of zero at their last inspection.
Two of these were in the city of Nottingham, two were in Ashfield and two were in Rushcliffe.
Newark & Sherwood and Mansfield both had just one establishment given a rating of zero at the last inspection.
And Broxtowe, Bassetlaw and Gedling had none.
Nottingham
Choice Supermarket, Colwick Road, Sneinton
Choice Supermarket, on Colwick Road in Sneinton, was given a zero after inspection on May 4 this year.
The inspector found that improvement was necessary in the business’ handling of food, while major improvement was necessary in the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building and management of food safety.
Hidden Spot Lounge, Denman Street East, Hyson Green
Hidden Spot is a snooker and pool club which doubles up as a shisha lounge in Radford near Nottingham city centre, between Ilkeston Road and Alfreton Road.
It’s been open for years but was given a hygiene rating of 0 on January 13 this year.
That’s despite the officer rating the business “very good” in the category of food handling.
Even the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and the building was rated generally satisfactory.
But urgent improvement was necessary in the department of management of food safety, which dropped the business’ rating all the way down to a zero.
Newark & Sherwood
The Old Malt Shovel, North Gate, Newark
The Old Malt Shovel on North Gate in Newark was given a zero after an inspection on September 26, 2025.
The pub serves cask ales and attracts a clientele of “mature males” during the day, according to a regional manager at its parent company, Stonegate Group.
Urgent improvement was found necessary in the way the chefs handled food, while the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building and the management of food safety was not much better – and needed major improvement.
Ashfield
Tara Spice, Lowmoor Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Tara Spice is an Indian restaurant and takeaway on Lowmoor Road in Kirkby in Ashfield.
It has a four-star rating on Google from 149 reviews, and a 3.9-star rating on Trip Advisor from 85 reviews, with one praising it saying: “Order ready on time. Staff friendly. Immaculate looking restaurant.
Another said: “This is the best take away food I’ve ever eaten, I’ve been coming here for 20 years. It is exceptional. Awesome food and service.”
But after inspection on July 8 this year it was given a zero, with major improvement necessary across hygienic food handling practices, the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and the building, and the management of food safety.
TCT Takeaway, Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield
TCT is a takeaway and catering company in Skegby which offers Sri Lankan, Indian and English food, including a variety of curries.
It has a premises on Mansfield Road, called TCT Takeaway, next to an adjacent unit called TCT Restaurant.
It is currently listed on Google, however, as being permanently closed, despite a five-star review as recently as three months ago.
Its zero food hygiene rating came after an inspection on June 9, with urgent improvement necessary in the hygienic food handling and management of food safety categories, and major improvement necessary in the cleanliness and condition of facilities and building category.
Rushcliffe
Indian Nights, Fosse Way, East Bridgford
Indian Nights is a restaurant in East Bridgford which has 4.4 stars out of five on Google. Under an “About Us” section of the website, it even describes itself as “hygienic”.
But an inspection on June 11 found that major improvement was necessary in food handling and management of food safety, and improvement was necessary in the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building.
Food Court, Ruddington
Food Court in Ruddington says it is now “temporarily closed” on its Instagram page, where it boasts 60 followers. Its Facebook page has only one review, from June.
It says: “After ordering on there website order was received, took my money waited over an hour. Knocked on the door. Nothing ever showed up nothing at all.”
It was inspected in April and was given a zero rating for food hygiene, with improvement necessary in food handling and major improvement needed in cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety.
Mansfield
Monika Mini Market, Stockwell Gate
Monika Mini Market, at 57 Stockwell Gate in Mansfield, sits between Razor Kingz barbers and the former FA Henshaw furniture store on the popular shopping street, which leads to the town’s market place.
The nature of the business is described on Companies House as being “retail sale in non-specialized stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating”.
But it was given a rating of 0 after an inspection on March 6, 2025, when it was found that improvement was necessary in its food handling, and major improvement was necessary in its cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and its management of food safety.
Do you think you've got what it takes to solve the case?!
Step into the glamour and chaos of the 1930s for A Fatal Exhibition of Oddities, an interactive murder mystery evening packed with clues, characters and twists. Can you crack the case before the culprit is revealed?
Fri 11 Sept | 6–9.30pm
£10 per ticket
ONLINE BOOKING NOW AVAILABLE
Aurora Bassetlaw Centre, S80 2BJDress to impress (there’s a prize!!), bring your own refreshments (alcohol permitted), and enjoy a night of mystery, all in support of Aurora Wellbeing Centres.Online booking now live via our blog or call 01909 470985 to book https://aurorawellbeing.org.uk/murder-mystery-evening/
Thanks so much for reading our local newsletter and for supporting us. We’re committed to providing Bassetlaw with the quality local news service it deserves, but sustaining this work may come with some challenges. Our team is currently discussing how to make Bassetlaw Today financially viable in the long term, and one option we’re considering is introducing a subscription model to help cover our costs.
We want to be open with you about these conversations so you’re aware that a fee may need to be introduced in the future. If that happens, we hope you’ll continue to stand with us and support the publication.
Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.
Justin Doddy, Editor
P.S. Your feedback about this newsletter is important to me. You can email me your feedback to news@bassettlawtoday.co.uk
