7 establishments in St Helens given new food hygiene ratings

Seven venues, consisting of pubs, cafés takeaways, have been given new scores by the Food Standards Agency.

How do food hygiene ratings work?

The FSA is responsible for ensuring that establishments are up to scratch in terms of food hygiene regulations, and that they are safe to frequent.

Establishments are graded against the following criteria:

• Hygienic food handling - Hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.
• Management of food safety - System or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future.
• Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building - Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building (including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control) to enable good food hygiene.

Ranging from zero to five, food hygiene ratings are given to food handling businesses after an inspection has assessed how well they comply with food safety laws.

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The rating reflects the standards of food hygiene found on the date of the inspection.

Here is how the scores are graded.

5 – hygiene standards are very good

4 – hygiene standards are good

3 – hygiene standards are generally satisfactory

2 – some improvement is necessary

1 – major improvement is necessary

0 – urgent improvement is required

If businesses are awarded a score lower than five, the local authority officer will explain what action they can take to improve.

Seven St Helens venues rated

Out of the new ratings given to seven venues in St Helens after inspections in November or December, five of them were given the maximum score of five. Meanwhile, one score of three was given and one score of two. 

Here is how venues were rated:

Bikers Bistro

Bikers Bistro, at Els Bistro Millennium Motorcycle Centre, Aspinall Place, Thatto Heath, St Helens; rated on December 8 - 5 out of 5

Bikers Bistro scored five (Image: Google Street View)

Momo's Café 

Momo's at Westfield Street, St Helens; rated on December 6 - 5 out of 5

Sidac Social Club

Sidac, off, Wheatsheaf Avenue, Sutton Leach; rated on December 11 - 5 out of 5

The Owls Nest

The Owls Nest pub, on West End Road, Haydock; rated on November 6 - 5 out of 5

The Owl's Nest scored five (Image: Submitted)

The Raj Indian Restaurant

The Raj Indian Restaurant at Elephant Lane, Thatto Heath; rated on December 4 - 5 out of 5

The Great Wall

The Great Wall at Pocket Nook Street, St Helens; rated on November 23 - 3 out of 5

The Game Bird

The Game Bird at East Lancashire Road, Eccleston; rated on November 23 - 2 out of 5