Revealed: Watford food outlets with zero food hygiene rating

Research for the FSA found bad restaurant experiences are responsible for a third (34 per cent) of those Valentine’s day dating disasters, and 36 per cent of daters report getting food poisoning from a restaurant is the worst thing that could happen to them on Valentine’s Day – even ahead of getting dumped (29 per cent).

All food outlets are rated from five, very good, to zero, very poor, and all authorities' food hygiene ratings, including Watford, Hertsmere, Three Rivers, and Dacorum, can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.

The Watford Observer has put together a list of places in the Watford area with hygiene in need of "urgent improvement", according to the Food Standards Agency.

The list includes all food outlets.

1. Grill Hut Original in Vicarage Road, Watford was last inspected on September 9, 2014 and received zero. The Watford Observer was unable to make contact with the takeaway.

2. La Bottega Italiana in Market Street, Watford, scored zero in their last inspection on September 29, 2014, but the manager refused to comment on why. 

3. Watford Supermarket in Market Street, Watford, had its last inspection on December 6, 2013 and received a zero food rating. The supermarket did not get back to the Watford Observer explaining why.

4. Brothers Cafe in Hallowes Crescent in South Oxhey was last visited for inspection on August 12 2014 and was given a zero.

The Watford Observer tried to contact the new owner but got no reply. Three Rivers District Council said the cafe was revisited two days later for inspection and improvements were found, but many were still needed.

It said two further revisits of the cafe were then carried out in September 2014, which confirmed compliance with all Hygiene Improvement Notices. The cafe was informed it could request a rescore but no such request has been received. The next primary inspection is due imminently.

5. The Whip and Collar in Uxbridge Road in Rickmansworth received a zero rating when it was last inspected on April 23, 2014. The Watford Observer tried to contact the pub but was unsuccessful.

Three Rivers District Council said the pub had two subsequent revisits in April and May 2014 and improvements were noted.

In December 2014 the pub was under new management, and in January 2015, according to the council, the business only operated as a wet pub.

This activity is much lower risk in terms of food handling operations. The next primary inspection is due imminently.

6. Shimla Spice Bushey Ltd in Bushey Hall Road, Bushey, was last inspected on June 18, 2014 and received a zero. Since the inspection the takeaway has now closed.

7. The Round Bush Public House in Round Bush Lane, Aldenham, was given a zero rating when it was last inspected on May 22, 2014. The Watford Observer contacted the pub, but it has yet to comment.

Information was obtained from the Food Standards Agency website and was correct at the time of writing.