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in this section of public health administration has had the effect of
reducing the number of regular routine visits to restaurants. This
rather regrettable circumstance is due to a variety of causes, some of
which are outlined below:—
(а) The continuous flow of applications for new catering licences,
which must necessarily receive prior consideration. The
gradual transformation of Mayfair into a business area has
resulted in the construction of many new staff canteens
where, in every instance, the inspectors of the department
have been called to give advice on the best practicable layout,
design and construction. Examples of different problems
put to them especially in the smaller canteens, include the
technical details of the installation of considerable mechanical
ventilation plant, and the efficient arrangements for the
supply of adequate running hot water.
(b) Owing to a change in the law, the old type "bottle party"
has developed into the "members' club," where in order to
comply with the new statute meals must be provided, and
this in turn requires a catering licence. This evolution has,
fortunately, been the cause of comprehensive improvements
in these premises; particularly encouraging results have
been, in every case, the provision of efficient kitchen arrangements.
(c) As many of the alterations and improvements required in
existing restaurants have proved to be very costly (in some
cases exceeding £20,000), the work involved has often
extended over a period of ten to twelve months. The nature
and extent of the work has inevitably limited the number
of premises with which it has been possible to deal. In
some other instances the standard of workmanship has not
been quite satisfactory, and has proved to have been a
retarding factor in securing speedy compliance with notices.
In several instances work has had to be repeated and
restaurant proprietors have had occasion to take action in
the County, and even the High Court, mainly because of
duplicated costs. This is mentioned because the sanitary
inspector dealing with the work is invariably sub-poenaed to
give evidence, and many hours of his time are spent waiting
for the cases to be heard.
(d) The proprietors of now restaurants encounter many difficulties
in obtaining building licences for work specified by the
inspector before the restaurant is opened for business. The
Regional Food Office, though fully appreciative of the need
for the licence, cannot always, because of national financial
restrictions imposed on them, endorse the full extent of the
proposed work. In consequence, sometimes "make-shift"