NEW food hygiene ratings have been awarded to a dozen restaurants and takeaways in the city.

Several restaurants, pubs, bars, nightclubs and food outlets have had their inspection results listed on the Food Standards Agency’s website.

What do the numbers mean?

• Zero – Urgent improvement necessary. There are two outlets with this rating.

• One – Major improvements necessary. There are 32 outlets with this rating.

• Two – Improvements necessary. There are 20 outlets with this rating.

• Three – Generally Satisfactory. There are 122 outlets with this rating.

• Four – Good on assessment. There are 432 outlets with this rating.

• Five – Seen as very good. There are 1,865 outlets with this rating.

The following outlets received a rating of five:

  • Suriya's Thai Kitchen, St George's Road, Brighton, rated on January 11
  • The Vurger Co, Brighton Place, Brighton, rated on January 8
  • Sawadee Thai Restaurant, St James's Street, Brighton, rated on December 11

The following received a rating of four:

• Kingsway Coffee,Victoria Terrace, Hove, rated on December 7

  • Kebab House, West Street, Brighton, rated on December 10
  • Sawadee Thai Restaurant, St James's Street, Brighton, rated on December 11

• Honest Burgers, Duke Street, Brighton, rated on December 4

• Bardsley's Fish And Chips, Baker Street, Brighton, rated on November 24

• Leto Burger, Montpelier Place, rated on December 8.

  • Cafe Coho, Queen's Road, Brighton, rated on December 17
  • Bill's, North Road, Brighton, rated on December 13

The following received a rating of three:

• Dishy at Timber Chalet Cafe, Blakers Park, Preston Drove, Brighton, rated on November 27

  • Curry Leaf Cafe, Ship Street, Brighton, rated on December 13
  • Bedford Tavern, Western Street, Brighton, rated on December 11

• Pickled Oyster At The Signalman, Ditchling Rise, Brighton, rated on December 7

• Shanghai Garden, George Street, Brighton, rated on December 4

• Happy Inn, Eldred Avenue, Brighton, rated on November 30

  • Tilt, Preston Drove, Brighton, rated on December 15

The following received a rating of two:

• Turkish Villa Restaurant, Pool Valley, Brighton, rated on November 27

• Japanese Cafe An-An, Boundary Road, Hove, rated on December 8.

The following received a rating of one:

• Sunbirds, London Road, Brighton, rated on November 26

• Famous Sichuan Restaurant, Queen's Road, Brighton, rated on December 9

  • Maeme's Grill, 72 Western Road, Brighton, rated on December 20

Businesses which are given low ratings of zero or one must make urgent or major improvements to hygiene standards.

The local authority food safety officer has several enforcement options available and gives advice and guidance to make sure these improvements are made.

The food safety officer will also tell the business how quickly these improvements must be made and this will depend on the type of issue that needs to be addressed.

If the officer finds a business’s hygiene standards are very poor and there is an imminent risk to public health, when food may be unsafe to eat, the officer must act to ensure consumers are protected.

This could result in stopping part of the business or closing it down until it is safe.

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