More than 100 kitchens across Wales are listed with a ZERO hygiene rating which means they require urgent improvement – including a primary school.

From this week, all food outlets in Wales are legally required to display their score in a prominent place – such as their front door or window – and at every entrance.

The score – from zero to five – is also listed on the Food Standards Agency’s website – and as we went to press yesterday there were 118 kitchens listed with a zero rating.

This included restaurants, pubs, takeaways, rugby clubs and sweet shops.

Some counties had not a single premises with a zero, while others had several.

Powys had the most with 19 listed, Bridgend followed with 14 and then Rhondda Cynon Taf with 11.

Sennybridge County Primary School in Brecon was among those with a zero rating in Powys.

Communications manager at Powys Council John said “structural issues” were to blame and this had since been rectified and a higher rating of five awarded.

“The FSA list has not been updated yet,” he said, “The other premises on the list are private businesses.”

The rating is decided from three elements:

• How hygienically the food is handled;

• the condition of the structure of the premises; and 

• how the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe and if the officer can be confident standards will be maintained in the future.

A spokeswoman for FSA said: “Every business is capable of getting a five.”

“Businesses are not given a zero then left alone, if there’s a risk to public health there are certain procedures in place, and the inspectors would be working with businesses on the actions they need to take.”

The scores are regularly inspected and scores can change – it’s the responsibility of councils to update the ratings, and some businesses we spoke to, said they were no longer rated a zero.

 Iain Stuart-Scobie, who runs Iain’s Country Restaurant in Laleston, near Bridgend – which scored zero – says he believed the system needed an overhaul, with too much concentration on “ticking boxes”.

“Unfortunately we are in a very old building and after clearing down on a Sunday and between opening back up on the Tuesday, when the inspectors turned up, a rat had got in through a previously treated hole – which had been already filled with expanding foam,” he said.

“It took us down from a three to a zero. Even the pest control man stated it was a one-off not an infestation.

“I personally think there’s too little criteria on the actual experience and what’s going on in a restaurant.  There’s a lot that’s wrong with the system.

“Environmental health officers are going to be relying on the fact that people will not pay the newly-introduced fee to get a regrading. And there’s no room for manoeuvre.”

Those tested are given the chance to write feedback on their score on the FSA’s website.

The Welsh Government said the new legislation is aimed at driving up standards within the food industry and giving consumers the opportunity to make informed decisions about where they choose to eat out or shop for food.

View gallery

• “
• “
• “
• “
• “

View gallery

 

“People want to know that the places where they are buying or eating their food are hygienic and safe,” a spokesman said.

David Jones, head of community protection at Rhondda Cynon Taf council said food business operators see the commercial advantage of scoring highly.

“They also see the negative impact of a low score as a commercial threat,” he said.

“We firmly believe that the introduction of the scheme accounts for the increase in the percentage of our food premises that are broadly compliant from 50% to 84% since it began in October 2010.

“It is not surprising that some owners of low scoring businesses have decided not to display their scores under the voluntary scheme.”

The restaurants in Wales rated zero

Anglesey

None

Blaenau Gwent

Chula, Beaufort Ebbw Vale – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Bridgend

Ali’s Kebab House, Pontycymmer – takeaway

Cabo Roche, Bridgend – Pub/bar/nightclub

Ella Riley Sweets, Bridgend – Retailers – other

Emu’s Snack Bar, Private address – Mobile caterer

Happy Valley Cafe Shop, Porthcawl – Retailers – other

Hilary Iain’s Country Restaurant, Laleston – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Lakeside, Blackmill – Restaurant/Cafe

Llangeinor AFC, Llangeinor – Pub/bar

Milano’s Coffee House, Maesteg – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Nantymoel RFC, Nantymoel – Pub/bar

New Town Chinese Takeaway, Bettws – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Nobel House, Pencoed – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Parc Stores, Porthcawl – Retailers – other

Railway Inn Restaurant and Cafe, Maesteg – Pub/Bar/Nightclub

The News Shop, Bridgend – Retailers – other

Wickhams, Pyle – Retailers – other

Caerphilly

Neuaddwen Inn, Aberbargoed – Pub/bar

Taste of India, Caerphilly – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Cardiff

The Unicorn, Old St Mellons –  Pub/bar/nightclub

Sizzle and Grill, Canton – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Nathan Stevens, Leckwith – Mobile caterer

Mirchi Limited, Roath – Restaurant/Cafe

Full Belly Food Bar, Ely – Mobile caterer

Chicken.com, Roath – Restaurant/Cafe

Anthony Cook, Riverside – Mobile caterer

Alborz Grill, Riverside – Other premises

Carmarthenshire

Asian Kitchen, Ammanford – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Chicken Express, Llanelli – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Kubus, Llanelli – Retailers – other

Ceredigion

Aberporth Sports Social Club, Cardigan – Pub/bar/nightclub

Amethyst Oriental Cuisine, Llanon – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Bardsey View Restaurant, Lampeter – Bardsey View Restaurant

Conwy

Cadwgan Bakery, Old Colwyn – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Chrissies Kitchen, Conwy – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Elsinore Hotel, Llandudno – Hotel/bed breakfast/guest house

Fish and Chips, Llandudno – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Jade Garden, Llandudno Junction – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Denbighshire

Samirah Spice, Llangollen – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Corwen Kebab House, Corwen – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Asha Indian Restaurant, Rhyl – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Flintshire

Cafe at Cae Hic Livery Riding Centre, Mold – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Gwynedd

None

Merthyr Tydfil

None

Monmouthshire

Glanusk Farm Shop, Abergavenny – Farmers/grower

Shahi Balti, Abergavenny – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

T’Licious, Chepstow – Restaurant/Cafe

Neath Port Talbot

Croeserw Fish Bar, Cymmer – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Eira’s, Briton Ferry – Restaurant/Cafe

Hing Tai Chinese Cantonese Takeaway, Pontardawe – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Lynda’s Place, Port Talbot – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Pontardawe Post Office, Pontardawe – Retailers – other

Spyce, Gwaun Cae Gurwyn – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Newport

Yi Feng Chinese Store – Retailers – supermarkets/hypermarkets

Al Madhim – Retailers – other

Pembrokeshire

CK’s Supermarket, St David’s – Retailers – supermarkets/hypermarkets

Dragon House Chinese Takeaway, Fishguard- Takeaway/sandwich shop

Horse and Jockey, Steynton – Pub/bar/nightclub

Jerry’s Diner, Pembroke – Restaurant/Cafe

New Garden, Milford Haven – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Oak Inn, Haverfordwest – Pub/bar/nightclub

Pennsylvania Farm Free Range Eggs, Haverfordwest – Farmers/growers

Saundersfoot Fish Chicken, Saudersfoot – Takeaway/sandwich shop

USA Fried Chicken, Milford Haven – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Powys

Welshpool Fish Bar, Welshpool – Takeaway/sandwich shop

W R Davies (Shop), Welshpool Powys – Retailers – other

Travellers Rest, Talybont On Usk, Brecon – Pub/bar/nightclub Brecon

The Lion Royal Hotel, Rhayader – Hotel/bed breakfast/guest house

Kam Koms Garden, Ystradgynlais – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Lakeside Cafe Bistro, Llandrindod Wells – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Maeswalter, Defynnog, Brecon – Hotel/bed breakfast/guest house

Palleg Golf Club, Lower Cwmtwrch – Pub/bar/nightclub

Red Lion, Machynlleth – Pub/bar/nightclub

Riverside Retreats Ltd, Lower Cwmtwrch – Pub/bar/nightclub

Sennybridge County Primary School, Brecon – School/college/university

The Harp Inn, Old Radnor, Presteigne – Pub/bar/nightclub

The Hollybush Inn Caravan and Camping Site, Hay-On-Wye – Pub/bar/nightclub

European Delicatessen, Welshpool – Retailers – other

Dolbedwyn Cider – Farmers/growers

Carlton Riverside, Llanwrtyd Wells – Hotel/bed breakfast/guest house

Cann Office Hotel, Welshpool – Hotel/bed breakfast/guest house

Candyland, Brecon – Retailers – other

Black Lion Hotel, Llangurig Llanidloes – Pub/bar/nightclub

Rhondda Cynon Taff

100 Degrees Chinese Restaurant, Treforest – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Cha Cha’s, Talbot Green – Restaurant/Cafe

Charcoal Grill, Beddau – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Cinnamon Tree, Treforest – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Clive Adams, Tonypandy – Retailers – other

Golden Valley Cantonese, Porth – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Just Us, Rhydyfelin – Retailers – other

Papa Bull Pizza, Aberdare – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Pizza Plus, Pontypridd – Restaurant/Cafe

The Raj, Talbot Green – Restaurant/Cafe

Yummies, Penrhiwceiber – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Swansea

Yummy Yummy Takeaway, Sandfields – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Wonderful Chinese Cuisine, Hafod – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Tonys Off Sales, Birchgrove – Retailers – other

Tasty Cantonese Takeaway, Mount Pleasant – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Plough and Harrow, Llangyfelach – Pub/bar/nightclub

Peru Coffee Bar, Morriston – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

New Lucky View Chinese Takeaway, Morriston – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Mr Kwok Kam Cheung, Port Tennant – Mobile caterer

Manos Takeaway, Sandfields – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Golden Choice Restaurant, City Centre – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Bloomburger, City Centre – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Bargain Booze, Treboeth – Retailers – other

Torfaen

White Hart Inn and The Cavern Basement, Abersychan Pontypool – Pub/bar/nightclub

Wayne Randell Butchers, Abersychan Pontypool – Retailers – other

The Curry Kitchen, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Naseeb Tandoori, Blaenavon Pontypool – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Lee’s Kitchen, Pontypool – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Kebab Van (off Grange Road/Llanfrechfa Way roundabout), Cwmbran – Mobile caterer

Vale of Glamorgan

Pizza Knight, Barry – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Red Lion Inn Bonvilston – Pub/bar/nightclub

Spice Grill, Rhoose, Barry – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

The Baguette Shop, Barry – Takeaway/sandwich shop

The Highwayman Inn, Nurston, Barry – Pub/bar/nightclub

The Savoy Social Club, Barry – Pub/bar/nightclub

Ogmore Farm Tea Rooms, Ogmore – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Lubnas Indian Takeaway, Llantwit Major – Takeaway/sandwich shop

Londis Supermarket Shop, Barry – Retailers – other

Hedleys Bistro, Barry – Restaurant/Cafe/CanteenBarry

Friends of Coed Hills, St Hilary, Cowbridge – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Cionis Bistro, Penarth – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

Wrexham

Krazy About Pizza, Wrexham – Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen

The scores are correct at time of publication though they are regularly inspected and scores can change.

To see zero restaurants in your area visit ratings.food.gov.uk