Sole ‘zero star’ rated food outlet in NI closes
The only food outlet in Northern Ireland Only to score a zero star hygiene rating in the past year has closed.
Al-amin in Keady, Co Armagh, was given a straight zero — meaning ‘Urgent Improvement Necessary’ — by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council on September 5.
Just weeks after the damning verdict, the Indian takeaway announced on social media that it was closing.
In a post, published on October 12, the eatery made no mention of the hygiene rating but said: “We here at Al-amin Indian regret to inform all our customers that we will cease trading from 22nd October.
“We want to thank all the customers who have supported us over the years and it’s not our wish to close as we intended to stay for many years more but we have been given no choice as we have been asked to move from the premises.”
The Food Standards Agency found that the restaurant’s main causes for ‘major necessary improvement’ related to the cleanliness and condition of its facilities and building to enable good food hygiene, as well as poor management of food safety.
This means major improvement is needed regarding having a “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”.
In total throughout 2023, 73 places in Northern Ireland received a ‘score on the door’ rating of 1 by their local councils, which classifies as ‘major improvement necessary’.
SD Bell’s cafe on the Upper Newtownards Road, east Belfast, a popular tea and coffee specialist, was included in this list.
But Mr Bell stressed that all the issues raised in the inspection had been addressed and they were looking forward to a re-rating very soon.
The prestigious Royal Belfast Golf Club in Holywood was also told ‘major improvement is necessary’ following an inspection by food safety inspectors from Ards and North Down Borough Council.
The exclusive private members club — the oldest golf club in Ireland — has accepted the score on the doors food hygiene rating as “unsatisfactory” and has since said that it has addressed the concerns raised.
