The Whitebrook in Monmouth, which was one of only six UK restaurants to be awarded a Green Michelin star earlier this year, has recently been given a poor food hygiene rating.
The Whitebrook also retained its Michelin Star for the 10th consecutive year back in February.
The Welsh restaurant had previously been given one of the poorest food hygiene ratings of one back in late September, but following a re-inspection on November 22, they have now been given the top rating of five stars.
The Whitebrook, Monmouth, secures top hygiene rating
The Food Hygiene Rating Act 2013 became law in Wales on March 4, 2013, requiring all businesses selling food in Wales – including pubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels, takeaways, schools, hospitals, canteens, care homes and corner shops – to display hygiene ratings in a prominent place, and to provide the information verbally if requested over the phone.
Inspections are carried out by the local authority officers, and ratings – from zero, meaning urgent improvement is necessary or they may risk closure; to five, meaning standards are excellent – are updated on the FSA website. Businesses have the right to appeal against ratings.
Each inspection is carried out under three categories – hygienic food handling, which covers preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, covering including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control, and the management of food safety, which is defined as the 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.
According to these ratings, the Whitebrook is now deemed to be within the good grading level in both the categories of hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of facilities and building.
They have been scored as very good in the category of the management of food safety.
The Whitebrook is open 7pm to 9pm on Thursday and 1pm to 2pm and 7pm to 9pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.