UK's filthiest pubs revealed as one in 40 boozers in Britain fail food hygiene ratings – is your local one of them?

12/29/2024 07:09 PM

THE UK’s filthiest pubs have been revealed with one in 40 boozers across the country failing food hygiene ratings.

Food Standards Agency data reveals that one in 40 drinking establishments are operating with substandard hygiene ratings.

Some venues were even found to have rotting food and rodent droppings.

Among the failing venues, dozens received the lowest possible rating of zero, requiring urgent improvements to their food safety standards.

Inspectors discovered unsafe food storage practices and serious cleanliness concerns during their visits to these establishments.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, food establishments are rated on a scale from zero to five, with any score below two falling short of minimum standards.

The rating system focuses on food handling, storage practices, facility cleanliness and overall food safety management.

Birmingham tops the list of areas with failing venues, with 26 bars and restaurants falling below required food safety standards.

Cornwall, Powys and Wiltshire follow as the regions with the next highest numbers of substandard establishments.

In London, Ealing emerges as the borough with the worst record, where 15 bars and restaurants failed to meet appropriate hygiene standards.

Waltham Forest has raised particular concerns, recording the highest number of zero-rated bars and pubs in the country, with four establishments receiving the lowest possible rating.

East Lindsey, Doncaster and Cornwall also showed concerning patterns, each having multiple venues with zero ratings.

The Food Standards Agency emphasises that these ratings represent a “snapshot” of hygiene standards and do not assess food quality, customer service or presentation.

These geographical patterns highlight widespread food safety issues across both urban and rural areas of Britain.

The alarming figures come as Brits prepare for one of the busiest periods in the hospitality calendar, with millions expected to visit their local establishments between now and New Year’s Eve.

Meanwhile, Scotland operates differently, using a simpler pass or fail system for its venues.

Local authorities are tasked with inspecting businesses in their area at least every two years, though staffing challenges have hindered this process.

Inspectors specifically look for issues such as unsafe food storage, cleanliness violations and proper food handling procedures during their visits.

Of the failing establishments outside Scotland, 584 venues received a rating of two, indicating improvements are necessary.

A further 445 establishments scored just one point, signalling that major improvements are required to meet basic hygiene standards.

Most concerning are the 43 venues that received zero ratings, the lowest possible score, where urgent improvement is deemed necessary by inspectors.

In Scotland, where a different grading system is used, 224 pubs, bars and nightclubs were rated as “Improvement Required”.

These figures stand in stark contrast to the majority of establishments, with nearly 33,700 bars, pubs and clubs across England, Wales and Northern Ireland achieving the maximum rating of five.

An additional 7,766 venues scored four points on the hygiene scale.