31-07-2025
The 1/5 hygiene restaurants that have been reinspected - have they improved?
Inspectors have been back to some of the area's lowest rated eateries for hygiene standards to update their scores.
The Watford Observer has covered some damning food hygiene ratings from Watford, Three Rivers, and Hertsmere council so far this year.
However, many have been able to turn the ship around and achieve a much better rating after addressing issues inspectors raised the first time the full list below:
The Viking in Tolpits Lane, which is separate to Viking Fish Bar in Bushey Mill Lane, told the Watford Observer that it was making all the necessary improvements when a 1/5 rating was published in January.
This was borne out as its received a 4/5 in March.
The Viking in Tolpits Lane (Image: Newsquest)Rice Bowl, in St Albans Road, Watford, received its first 1/5 score in January and then got the same score again in late May.
After the report was published earlier this month, the owner told the Watford Observer that it is 'disappointed with the recent inspection outcome' and had applied for another reinspection.
They assured customers that 'this rating does not reflect the standards we hold ourselves to every day'.
Chikayan Chinese Restaurant, in High Road, Bushey, received a 1/5 rating after a visit in March but had already raised its standards to 5/5 levels by May.
, in St Albans Road, received a 1/5 score after a visit on April 23 but was able to raise this to a 3/5 meaning 'generally satisfactory' upon reinspection in June.
The Compasses Public House highlighted previously stellar record of perfect hygiene scores as it expressed 'disappointment' that it received a 1/5 rating following an inspection on March 20.
It was able to reclaim its 5/5 when inspectors returned to the Tibbs Hill Road, Abbots Langley, pub in June.
Other low scores this year:
Budgens in Printers Avenue, Watford, which only had its report published last week, and several other businesses that received 1/5 scores including Higgins Butchers, in Lower Road, Chorleywood, Tanners in Stewart Close, Abbots Langley, and Kismat Tandoori in Chalk Hill, Watford, are yet to have new reports published.
Buzykidz Preschool & After School Club, which received a 1/5 this year, will stop serving food for the next academic year.
