'DO NOT LET FEW SPOIL IT'.

Byline: By PAUL MAUNDER South Wales Echo 

A leading restaurateur has said people should not be frightened of eating out in the city after a score of food outlets were punished for poor food hygiene. Restaurants, takeaways and shops which allowed mice, rats and cockroaches to run wild were named and shamed by the Echo.

We reported 61 outlets in Cardiff, including major chains such as Tesco, Pizza Hut and TGI Friday's, had been targeted by food safety officers for a range of hygiene offences since June 2003.

Vijay Bhagotra, 60, chairman of the Cardiff and District Restaurateur Association (Cadra), appealed for people not be put off eating out in the Welsh capital.

Cadra was launched in November last year to represent and promote restaurateurs within the capital and its districts.

A host of top restaurateurs are members of the association including Noi Ramasut, of The Thai House, Tony Venditto, of Topo Gigio, Renato Vitolo, of Ciborio, and Iestyn Evans, of Zushi and Izakaya Japanese Tavern.

Mr Bhagotra, who owns the Celtic Cauldron in Cardiff and Court Colman Manor in Bridgend, said: 'I was very shocked, especially by companies like TGI Fridays and Tesco.

'It's a shame because they have given a fright to customers.

'We have very high standards in Cardiff and the surrounding area, and there are a lot of good restaurants. We're saying 'it's only a minority of the restaurants' which have not given training to their staff.

'Our organisation promotes training and helps our members to give that training with day courses at the University of Wales in Cardiff.

'There is funding available, and if more restaurants join us we can help.'