Several well-known restaurants in Southampton city centre have surprisingly low hygiene ratings, raising concerns about food safety standards in some of the city’s most frequented establishments.
Understanding the Ratings
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) rates establishments from 0 to 5, where 5 indicates excellent hygiene standards and 0 represents urgent improvement necessary. The ratings assess three key areas: food handling practices, cleanliness and condition of facilities, and food safety management.
The Affected Establishments
Beity Lebanese Restaurant, located on High Street and known for its authentic Mediterranean cuisine, received a rating of two stars. The restaurant, which typically serves traditional Lebanese dishes and has won recognition as Southampton’s Best Lebanese restaurant, was told to improve its standards despite its popularity among diners.
Bay Leaf Kitchen, an Indian restaurant, was awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of 2 (Improvement Necessary) by Southampton City Council during an inspection on June 23, 2024. The establishment, which offers traditional Indian cuisine, needs to make significant improvements to meet acceptable standards.
Yuri Cottage, inspected by Southampton City Council on May 30, received a concerning one-star rating. The inspection results indicated that major improvements were necessary at this Asian fusion establishment.
Argento Steak House, a popular steakhouse in the city centre, Kesarum, which offers Asian cuisine, and Wenzel’s The Bakers, a chain bakery, have also received low hygiene ratings, though specific details of their latest inspections are still pending public release.
A spokesperson for Southampton City Council’s Environmental Health department explained that these ratings are designed to help consumers make informed choices about where they eat. Businesses with low ratings are given detailed feedback and have the opportunity to request a re-inspection after making necessary improvements.
The Council emphasizes that a low rating doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality or taste of the food served but rather indicates issues with food safety practices, cleanliness, or management systems that need addressing.
Establishments can appeal their ratings or request a reinspection after making improvements, though this comes with a fee. The Council works closely with businesses to help them achieve higher standards and protect public health.
Consumers can check any establishment’s current food hygiene rating on the Food Standards Agency website or look for the green hygiene rating stickers that businesses are encouraged to display in their windows.
For more information about food hygiene ratings or to report concerns, residents can contact Southampton City Council’s food safety team at hygiene.rating@southampton.gov.uk.
