The latest round of inspections by the council's environmental health team includes some of the most popular places to eat in the district.

And officers have started carrying out weekend checks so they can visit at any time.

Three premises have been awarded the top rating of five stars – Elm Royd Nursing Home in Brighouse, Lightcliffe Primary School, and Pennine Lodge Residential Home in Todmorden.

Among those celebrating four stars were Melanie Leigh, who runs the Branch Road Inn, Greetland, with her husband Bryan.

She said: "To get four stars is brilliant. We're really pleased. It's taken a lot of hard work to get this place to the standard it is now and it's been a team effort.

"We've got a new chef who is really good and new menus."

Brackenbed Fisheries, Pellon, Halifax, also received four stars. Owner Mark Kosanovic said: "We're really proud and really happy to have got it

"I think the ratings are a good idea. They keep everyone on their toes and I'm all for it."

Teams from the council's environmental health department have been publishing their food inspection findings since last summer.

A five-star rating shows food outlets are above minimum hygiene standards. Two stars means they are complying with the law.

There was a mixed response from the places who failed to achieve any stars.

They included Scaitcliffe Hall, Burnley Road, Todmorden, which advertises itself on its website as "Calderdale's premier venue for weddings and special events".

Neil Sharma, general manager, said the hotel is still in discussions with the council about the rating.

"The hotel's record stands for itself. We serve 2,000 meals a week and are happy to show people around the kitchens as part of our show-around the hotel."

Lieaqat Ali of Sayaam Food Store, Gibbet Street, said the store had only been open a few weeks but next time they were inspected they expect a better rating. "We're trying our best, we're cleaning every day," he said.

Mohammed Khalid, owner of Midnight Express, Bull Green, Halifax, said he had done all the work the environmental health officers had asked him to and was arranging for another inspection.

Tariq Mahmood, manager of Saffron Restaurant and Takeaway, Oldham Road, Sowerby Bridge, said: "We've been open seven years and I've never had any complaints from customers. They can come and watch me cook if they want."

The owners of Zam Zam Indian, Victoria Road, Elland, said they awaiting a re-inspection.

A spokesman for Okra House Cafe, Northgate, Halifax, declined to comment.

THE RATINGS
Five stars:
Elm Royd Nursing Home, Elmwood Drive, Brighouse
Lightcliffe Primary School, Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe
Pennine Lodge Residential Home, Burnley Road, Todmorden

• Four stars:

Todmorden Conservative Club, Rochdale Road, Todmorden
SIA Fibral Ltd Guesthouse, Ellistones Lane, Greetland
Brackenbed Fisheries, Spring Hall Lane, Halifax
Branch Road Inn, Saddleworth Road, Greetland
Castlefields Infants School, Field Top Road, Rastrick
Cheeky Monkeys Day Nursery, Clare Road, Halifax
Crossley Mill Nursery, New Road, Hebden Bridge
Eureka Nursery, The 1855 Building, Discovery Road, Halifax
Jubilee Children's Centre, Lightowler Road, Pellon, Halifax
Ling Bob School, Albert Road, Halifax
Mayfield House Residential Home, King Cross Road, Halifax
Moyles Hotel Bar and Restaurant, New Road, Hebden Bridge
Pizza Hut, Charlestown Road, Halifax
Rawson Primary School, Rawson Street North, Halifax
Savile House Residential Home, Savile Road, Halifax
Shelf Out of School Club, Youth and Community Centre, Wade House Road, Shelf
St Anne's Community Services, Hawthorn Street, Brighouse
St Joseph's School, Prospect Street, Boothtown, Halifax
St Paul's Methodist Church, Tower Hill, Sowerby Bridge
St Winifred's Nursing Home, Crowtrees Lane, Brighouse
Sunshine Day Nursery, St Peter's Community Centre, St Peter's Avenue, Sowerby
The Willows, Firth Street, Brighouse
Tickle Ya Taste Buds, Rear of 54 Oxford Lane, Siddal, Halifax

Three stars:
Bar Place, Crown Street, Hebden Bridge
Cabin Cafe, New Road, Hebden Bridge
Cedar Grange Residential Home, Whitehill Road, Illingworth, Halifax
Ers / Mine, Dodge Holme Drive, Mixenden, Halifax
Farthing Wood PDN, New Lane, Skircoat Green, Halifax
Le Munch Bunch, Northgate, Halifax
Pizza King, Ovenden Road, Halifax
Rock Tavern, Dewsbury Road, Elland
Sizzlers, Dodge Holme Drive, Mixenden, Halifax
The Rock Inn Hotel, Broad Carr Lane, Holywell Green, Halifax
Wendys, St James Road, Halifax
Willow Park Day Nursery Ltd, Willow Street, Sowerby Bridge

Two stars:
Azaan Takeaway, Southgate, Elland
Coffee Cali, Woolshops, Halifax
PJs Koffee Kabin, New Road, Mytholmroyd
The Rivulets, Wharf Street, Sowerby Bridge
One star:
Claremount Sandwiches, Claremount Road, Boothtown, Halifax
JJ's, Water Street, Todmorden
New Tin Tin, Huddersfield Road, Halifax
Railway Hotel, Ovenden Road, Halifax
Rita's Confectionery, Illingworth Road, Illingworth, Halifax
Sizzler Spice, Manor Drive, Halifax
Sullivan's, Market Stall, Halifax Borough Market, Market Street, Halifax
Sultan Mahal, Westgate, Halifax
T Richardson and Son, Halifax Brough Market, Market Street, Halifax
The Vine, Tower Hill, Sowerby Bridge

No stars:
Midnight Express, Bull Green, Halifax
Okra House Cafe, Northgate, Halifax
Rastrick Spice Takeaway, New Hey Road, Rastrick
Saffron Restaurant and Takeaway, Oldham Road, Sowerby Bridge
Sayyam Food Store, Gibbet Street, Halifax
Scaitcliffe Hall, Burnley Road, Todmorden
Zam Zam Indian, Victoria Road, Elland

Reassessed premises:
Triangle House Private Day Nursery, Butterworth Lane, Triangle, now five stars.