Plymouth's Bella Italia restaurant awarded zero hygiene rating

A Plymouth restaurant is “deeply disappointed” after receiving zero hygiene rating and being told “urgent improvement is necessary".

Bella Italia at the Barbican Leisure Park was given the lowest rating by inspectors from Plymouth City Council.

A full inspection was carried out at the Bella Italia restaurant (also trading as Supa Nonna) on 8 October 2024 and it was found that major urgent improvement was necessary with regards to the cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, as well as the management of food safety.

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A Bella Italia spokesperson said “immediate corrective actions” have been carried out at the venue, on 12a Barbican Approach, and that safety of guests is a “top priority”. Inspectors deemed “urgent improvement” was necessary in the restaurant's management of food safety.

Food safety covers “system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat”. Inspectors also look for “evidence that staff know about food safety” and that “standards will be maintained in future”.

Improvement was also regarded “necessary” when it comes to the restaurant’s hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage. But the restaurant is now working closely with Plymouth City Council to "demonstrate the strength” of their hygiene practices.

A Bella Italia spokesperson said: “We are deeply disappointed with the recent Food Hygiene Rating Score for our Plymouth restaurant. The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and we have always maintained rigorous Food Safety and Health & Safety policies, supported by comprehensive team training and regular internal audits.

“Following the inspection, we have taken immediate corrective actions at this location and are working closely with Plymouth City Council to demonstrate the strength of our practices and ensure we quickly restore our Food Hygiene Rating to the high standard we expect in all of our restaurants and that our guests deserve.”

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), overseen by the FSA, has been designed to help customers choose where to eat out or shop for food by telling them how seriously the business takes their food hygiene standards. The scheme is run by local authorities in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and applies to restaurants, pubs, cafes, takeaways, hotels, supermarkets and other food shops.

If a premises is rated a five, the hygiene standards are very good, a four means the hygiene standards are good. The score of a three from a hygiene visit means standards are generally satisfactory.

Receiving a two in a hygiene rating means some improvement is necessary and the score of a one deems major improvement necessary, if a premises receives a zero rating then urgent improvement is required.

FSA states that food businesses must ensure they have a ‘system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat’. FSA also states that food businesses should follow the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) guidelines.

You can read the full hygiene report (from 8 October 2024) here.

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