Kerry’s Cookout & Cocktails, Upminster improved food hygiene rating

Kerry’s Cookout & Cocktails was started by school councillor Kerry Northam towards the end of 2022.

“I was looking for something to earn me a bit of extra money in the school holidays and with over 25 years of hospitality experience behind me, this seemed to be the ideal opportunity to open a small business,” said Kerry.

“I only expected to do a few barbecues but it built very quickly.”

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Kerry Northam founded Kerry’s Cookout & Cocktails in 2022 (Image: Kerry Northam) The business offers cocktail making, bar service, barbecues and glass hire at guests’ homes or chosen venues.

In August last year, Kerry was visited by a food hygiene inspector and was handed a score of two out of five.

“I was really disappointed,” she said.

“I didn’t feel it was justified at all – none of the team could believe it, we were all flabbergasted because we all know how particular I am with keeping things clean and tidy.

“I thought a two was quite harsh and then had to pay £300 to get a new inspection which, for a small business, is quite a lot.”

Kerry said that her team was flabbergasted at being given a two out of five hygiene rating (Image: Kerry Northam) Kerry said the business had not been marked down for cleanliness reasons but for not asking guests whether they had any allergies – even though she said they supplied their own food – as well as not ensuring all chefs have a Level 2 food hygiene and safety qualification.

She said: “We don’t have any food or drink delivered and we don’t store any food.

“It wasn’t given for any hygiene reasons but purely because we hadn’t been asking customers whether they had any allergies, which we now do, and although we had been checking temperatures of food, we hadn’t been recording them.

“I now have to ask if any of the guests have allergies even if I’m going round to people’s homes to cater and they are the ones buying the food.”

Kerry said that she took on the feedback of the inspector and has now been reinspected and handed a five out of five food hygiene rating.

Kerry’s Cookout & Cocktails was given a five out of five rating (Image: Kerry Northam) Kerry said that she felt “absolute relief” when given her new score and is excited to get going with the business’ summer bookings.

“We’ll be super busy this summer – we’ve already got 40 bookings.

“All my staff are family or friends of my daughters and even colleagues from work (school) – we’ve got an English teacher and two PE teachers who work in the summer.

“They enjoy it because its completely different to their usual jobs.

“We’re all here to be professional and give the best service and our new hygiene rating is evident of that.”