Indian Restaurant Dark Saffron in New Milton has closed its doors just months after receiving a one-star hygiene rating from local authorities.
The Indian restaurant, which was popular for its tandoori dishes and takeaway specials, was found to require “major improvement” following a routine inspection by the Food Standards Agency earlier this year. Officials cited issues with cleanliness and food safety, sparking concern among loyal patrons and prompting a visible downturn in business.
Regular customers told the Southampton Times that the rating was impossible to ignore. “We used to visit every week,” said one New Milton resident. “But after seeing the report, we just didn’t feel safe eating there anymore.” Online reviews quickly reflected the shift, with two recent one star reviews on TripAdvisor slamming poor customer service at the restaruant.
Attempts to contact the owners of Dark Saffron went unanswered this week. The restaurant’s doors remain closed, and a printed notice in the window simply states: “Closed until further notice.” Dark Saffron announced on Facebook its permanent closure:
“A Heartfelt Goodby from Dark Saffron
After much thought, we’ve made the difficult decision to permanently close Dark Saffron. We want to say a sincere thank you to all our wonderful customers for your love, support, and the beautiful moments we’ve shared. It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re truly grateful to have been part of your lives. We deeply apologise for any inconvenience caused by our closure and appreciate your kind understanding.
From the bottom of our hearts – thank you.”
Local business owners say the loss is disappointing but not surprising. “It’s tough enough at the moment for independent restaurants, but a bad hygiene score is almost impossible to come back from,” said one neighbouring shopkeeper.
Data from the Food Standards Agency show that restaurants with low hygiene ratings are significantly more likely to close within a year. In an era where diners check scores online before booking, a single poor inspection can have devastating consequences.
Dark Saffron’s closure leaves a gap on Station Road and offers a cautionary tale for other establishments. As the hospitality sector in the South continues to face economic headwinds, the message is clear: food safety and cleanliness are non-negotiable.
For those looking to dine out locally, food hygiene ratings for all New Milton eateries are available on the Food Standards Agency website. In Southampton for lovers of Indian cooking, the restaurant with the lowest hygiene rating is Bay Leaf Kitchen. The Indian restaurant in the city, was awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of 2 (which means “Improvement Necessary”) by Southampton City Council during an inspection. Several Indian restaurants in Southampton have achieved a 5-star (top) food hygiene rating. Here are a few that are specifically mentioned in available sources:
Kohinoor of Kerala also proudly advertises its 5-star Food Hygiene Rating
Saffron Indian Restaurant (Eastleigh) has a 5-star Food Hygiene rating
