Look before you book this Valentine’s Day

If you’re planning that special Valentine’s meal, remember to ‘look before you book’ to check out the food hygiene star rating of your chosen restaurant.

While there’s nothing romantic about food poisoning, the excellent hygiene standards across Brighton & Hove mean nothing needs to be off the menu for diners in the city.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates food businesses on their hygiene standards, based on inspections carried out by council food safety officers. Businesses are rated on a scale ranging from 0 which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’, through the ‘generally satisfactory’ rating of 3, to a top rating of 5 which is ‘very good’.      

In Brighton & Hove, 96% of food businesses have ratings of 3 or above.

Chair of the Environment Committee, Councillor Gill Mitchell, said: “The selection of places to eat and the high food hygiene ratings in Brighton & Hove are great for residents and visitors alike. Our Food Safety Team do a fantastic job of training and inspecting to make sure food businesses in the city maintain high standards and the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is a quick and easy way to check where you’re eating.”

So, whether you’re reserving a table at that romantic hotspot, the cosy little café, or planning on ordering a takeaway on your way home for a romantic meal, make sure your choice has a rating of 3 or above. You can check business ratings on the Food Standard Agency’s website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings or check for the green and black sticker on the window. If you can’t see one, ask the business.

For more information, visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/hygienerating.