Outside Food and Drink Policy

WICKERBYS C.I.C.

Trading as Wickerbys Community Café

Policy Owner: Board of Directors
Approved By: Wickerbys C.I.C.
Review Frequency: Annually or sooner if required

1. Purpose

This policy has been introduced due to health and safety requirements and to ensure Wickerbys Community Café maintains high standards of food safety, hygiene and customer safety.

As a food business, Wickerbys Community Café is legally responsible for ensuring that food and drink consumed on the premises is stored, prepared and served in accordance with food safety legislation. We are unable to guarantee the safety, quality or storage conditions of food or drinks purchased elsewhere.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all customers, visitors, volunteers, staff, contractors and anyone using Wickerbys Community Café.

3. Policy Statement

Due to health and safety requirements, food or beverages purchased elsewhere must not be stored on the premises of Wickerbys Community Café.

Only food and beverages purchased from Wickerbys Community Café may be consumed on the premises.

Food and drink purchased from Wickerbys Community Café must either:

Be consumed whilst on the premises; or
Be taken away immediately after purchase.

Food or beverages purchased from other retailers, restaurants, takeaways or supermarkets must not be stored, consumed or left anywhere within the café.

4. Reasons for the Policy

This policy has been implemented to:

Protect public health.
Maintain compliance with UK food hygiene legislation.
Reduce the risk of food contamination.
Prevent allergen cross-contamination.
Ensure all food consumed on the premises can be appropriately managed.
Maintain our Food Hygiene Rating and food safety standards.
Protect customers, volunteers and staff.

5. Food Safety

Wickerbys Community Café cannot verify:

How outside food or drink has been prepared.
Whether it has been stored at safe temperatures.
Whether allergens have been declared correctly.
Whether it remains safe for consumption.

For these reasons, outside food and drink cannot be accepted for storage or consumption on the premises.

6. Exceptions

Exceptions may be made where required by law or where reasonable adjustments are necessary under the Equality Act 2010. Examples may include:

Baby food or infant formula.
Medically necessary food or drink.
Food required because of a diagnosed medical condition or disability.

Where food or drink is brought onto the premises for one of the above reasons, it must be consumed during the individual's visit and must not be stored on the premises before or after use. Any remaining food or drink must be taken away when the individual leaves the café.

Staff may request a brief explanation where appropriate to ensure the safety of all customers and to comply with this policy.

7. Customer Responsibilities

Customers are expected to:

Respect this policy.
Dispose of outside food or drink before entering the café where appropriate.
Purchase food and beverages from Wickerbys Community Café if they wish to eat or drink on the premises.
Take away any products purchased from Wickerbys Community Café if they do not intend to consume them during their visit.

8. Non-Compliance

Customers who do not comply with this policy may be asked to:

Remove the outside food or drink from the premises.
Finish their visit and leave the café.
Leave the premises if they refuse to comply.

Repeated breaches may result in future access to Wickerbys Community Café being restricted or refused.

9. Equality

Wickerbys Community Café is committed to applying this policy fairly, consistently and in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Reasonable adjustments will always be considered where legally required.

10. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if legislation, food safety guidance or operational requirements change.

Approved by: Board of Directors
Organisation: Wickerbys C.I.C. trading as Wickerbys Community Café
Version: 1.0
Review Date: 12 months from approval