These are original documents from our history, from Kingston Council correspondence to food hygiene certificates and ratings. They support the dates on our Timeline and Key Facts page. Private addresses and personal contact details have been blacked out.
22 December 2003: Kingston Council letter about our catering plans
A letter from the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Environmental Health team following a phone call about our proposals for a catering business. It sets out the hand-washing facilities required under the Food Safety Act 1990 and asks for a plan of the proposed unit before installation.
3 June 2004: Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene, Graham Hamdi
Graham Hamdi’s Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, awarded on 3 June 2004.
August 2007: Food hygiene inspection at Park Road
An email from Kingston Council’s food safety team, sent in July 2016, confirming that The Garden Catering on Park Road, Kingston upon Thames, was inspected in August 2007, and that the business was registered with the council before that date.
22 October 2007: Kingston Council letter to our Tudor Drive warehouse unit
A letter from Kingston Council to The Garden’s warehouse unit on Tudor Drive, Kingston upon Thames, introducing the Scores on the Doors food hygiene scheme and enclosing our star rating certificate.
26 February 2009 to 23 September 2016: Our years at 30 South Lane
An extract from a 2022 Kingston Council business rates email confirming, from council records, that our business occupied 30 South Lane, Kingston upon Thames, from 26 February 2009 to 23 September 2016.
31 March 2009: Food business registration at 30 South Lane
Kingston Council’s acknowledgement of our food business registration for The Garden Catering at 30 South Lane, Kingston upon Thames, when we moved into our larger kitchen there.
8 February 2011: NCASS Level 2 Safe Food certificate, Alison Hamdi
Alison Hamdi’s Level 2 Safe Food certificate (Mobile and Outside Catering) from the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS), taken on 8 February 2011.
10 March 2011: Food Hygiene Rating 5 (Very Good) at 30 South Lane
The Food Hygiene Rating certificate issued by Kingston Council and the Food Standards Agency to The Garden Catering Ltd at 30 South Lane, Kingston upon Thames, showing the top rating of 5 (Very Good) after the inspection on 10 March 2011.
27 April 2012: Rating confirmed under the national scheme
A letter from Kingston Council confirming our Food Hygiene Rating of 5 (Very Good) as the borough moved to the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in May 2012. The rating was based on the 10 March 2011 inspection. In this scheme lower scores are better, so the 0 for structural requirements means no issues were found.
2012: Three Great Taste Gold awards
Great Taste Gold 2012 certificates from the Guild of Fine Food, awarded to The Garden Catering for three of our own marinades: The Garden Indian Marinade, The Garden Mexican Marinade and The Garden Provencal Marinade. Great Taste only keeps winners listed on its website for three years, so these certificates are our record.
Indian Marinade certificate · Mexican Marinade certificate · Provencal Marinade certificate
9 November 2015: Our first electric van
The registration certificate (V5C) for our first electric delivery van, a Citroen Berlingo 635 LX Electric panel van, registered BX13 KWM. It shows the van’s fuel type as electricity and that we became its keeper on 9 November 2015.
View the registration certificate
2016: Lease of Unit 5, Chessington Trade Park
The cover page of the 2016 lease between the landlord and The Garden Catering Limited for Unit 5, Chessington Trade Park, Cox Lane, Chessington, our kitchen after we left South Lane. The landlord’s names have been blacked out.
11 October 2016: Food business registration at Unit 5, Chessington
The Kingston and Sutton Shared Environment Service’s acknowledgement of our food business registration for The Garden Catering Ltd at Unit 5, Chessington Trade Park.
5 June 2018: Kingston Council payment to The Garden Catering Ltd
An extract from Kingston Council’s published spending data for June 2018, which lists every payment over 500 pounds. It shows a payment of 1,731.64 pounds to The Garden Catering Ltd from Adult Social Services on 5 June 2018. Other rows have been left out.
3 October 2023: Our second electric van
The registration certificate (V5C) for our second electric delivery van, a Citroen e-Berlingo 750 Enterprise panel van, registered RV23 HMC. It shows the van’s fuel type as electricity and that we became its keeper on 3 October 2023.
View the registration certificate
1 July 2024: MCS certificate for our solar installation
The MCS installation certificate for the solar photovoltaic system at Unit 6, Chessington Trade Park, installed by Greencap Energy Ltd and commissioned on 1 July 2024. The system has since been extended with more panels. The supply meter number has been blacked out.
Today: Food Hygiene Rating 5 (Very Good) at Unit 6, Chessington
Our current Food Hygiene Rating from the Food Standards Agency for The Garden Catering at Unit 6, Chessington Trade Park, following our most recent inspection by Kingston Council in February 2026.
