The Colchester restaurants rated best for hygiene

Several establishments have improved to the top rank, as the Food Standards Agency inspected various restaurants, takeaways, pubs, and other venues across the city.

The Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial government department, responsible for protecting public health in relation to food in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The inspections are carried out by the local authority and findings are updated on the FSA website whenever there is a new inspection conducted by the council. 

READ MORE: Colchester Bodrum Kebab House given one star hygiene rating

In May, 33 venues across the city were given new ratings by the Food Standards Agency.

Each establishment is ranked from zero to five stars, with anywhere from urgent improvement needed to businesses that as seen as very good.

There were 24 new five-star ratings given to venues in Colchester, including High Street favourites like Wimpy, Love Thy Burger, and Five Guys.

Five Guys was one of the restaurants praised for its hygiene

The new Greggs that opened on Monday in Stane Retail Park also received top marks.

Five businesses just missed out on the best rating, receiving four-out-of-five stars.

These included the popular Lexden Crown restaurant, the Spice Hut takeaway in Tiptree, and the S&S Caribbean in St Johns Street, Colchester.

The one and only three-star ranking was handed to the Firstsite Café.

Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews, three Colchester-based restaurants received a one-star rating from inspectors, these were the Bodrum Kebab House, Mama Rita, and Istanbul Delight.

The Gazette revealed through a Freedom of Information request that there were serious failings in the Bodrum Kebab House.

This included a lack of antibacterial sprays available to staff, no food labelling in place, mould growing on the roof of the walk-in refrigerator, and living mice which had been caught in glue traps in storage cupboards, hallways, and next to the walk-in fridge.

Both Mama Rita and Istanbul Delight were contacted by The Gazette for a comment on their one-star ratings provided by the FSA, however, neither responded at the time of going to press.