As the festive season approached in 2025, food safety inspectors were busy across Birmingham, assessing the hygiene standards of the city's restaurants and cafes. The results, published just before Christmas, reveal a mixed picture for diners, with many establishments achieving top marks but others falling seriously short.
The Latest Ratings Revealed
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, which scores businesses from 0 to 5, is designed to help customers make informed choices. A 5-star rating signifies 'very good' hygiene standards, while a 0 means 'urgent improvement is required'. A score of 1 indicates that major improvements are necessary.
In this latest round of inspections, a significant number of Birmingham venues demonstrated excellent practices. Among those awarded the top 5-star rating were popular spots like PHO at Grand Central (rated December 17), Pret A Manger on Newhall Street (rated December 16), and the Utilita Arena (National Indoor Arena) (rated December 3). Independent favourites such as The Hive Café and Bakery on Vittoria Street and Yum Yum Grill Shawarma in Nechells also secured the highest score.
Establishments Requiring Major Improvement
However, the inspections also identified several businesses where hygiene standards were found to be lacking. The most serious case was the Star Cafe on Witton Road in Aston, which received a damning 0 rating following an inspection on November 17. This score mandates urgent action to address food safety failures.
Other venues with low scores included Juice and Bites on Coventry Road and the Washwood Heath Conservative Club, both of which were handed a 1-star rating on November 17, indicating major improvements are needed. SHKAR Restaurant LTD on Soho Road received a 2-star rating in October.
What This Means for Birmingham Diners
These ratings provide a crucial snapshot of food safety behind the scenes at local eateries. The scheme ensures transparency, allowing the public to see the score given by inspectors online and on stickers displayed at the premises. For the businesses with lower ratings, the council's environmental health team will be working with them to ensure necessary improvements are made swiftly to protect public health.
The full list of recent ratings includes:
- Rated 5: PHO at Mk 10, Grand Central (December 17), Wattville Cafe (December 17), Cafe 52 (December 11), The Hub at The Vale (December 11), Modoo at Tin Tin Food Hall (December 1), Coyote Ugly Saloon (December 12).
- Rated 4: Creation Leisure Group Ltd (November 14), Uni Original Pizza & Kebabs (November 17).
- Rated 2: SHKAR Restaurant LTD (October 21).
- Rated 1: Juice and Bites (November 17), Washwood Heath Conservative Club (November 17).
- Rated 0: Star Cafe (November 17).
With this information readily available, Birmingham residents and visitors can dine out with greater confidence during the holiday season and beyond.
