Four pubs and bars in the London Borough of Bexley have been handed two-star food hygiene ratings by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), with cleanliness and facility condition flagged as the main areas of concern.
The venues affected are Crayford Arrows Sports Club in Crayford, Plough and Harrow in Welling, The Eardley Arms in Belvedere, and The Penny Farthing in Crayford. Each received two out of five stars, meaning 'improvement necessary' according to the FSA's rating scale.
What the inspections found
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme assesses businesses on three criteria: hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and buildings, and management of food safety. A rating of two indicates improvement is necessary, while five represents 'very good' standards.
Crayford Arrows Sports Club, at 96 Perry Street, was inspected on March 28. While hygienic food handling and food safety management were both rated 'very good', the cleanliness and condition of facilities was marked as 'improvement necessary'.
Plough and Harrow Public House at 143 Bellegrove Road, Welling, received its two-star rating after an inspection on March 18. The report rated hygienic food handling and food safety management as 'generally satisfactory', but again flagged facility cleanliness as needing improvement.
Older inspection for Belvedere venue
The Eardley Arms at 44 Woolwich Road, Belvedere, also holds a two-star rating, but its inspection dates back to October 27, 2023. Inspectors assessed hygienic food handling and food safety management as 'generally satisfactory', with the same 'improvement necessary' verdict on facility cleanliness.
The Penny Farthing at 3 Waterside, Crayford, was inspected on June 16. It received a 'good' rating for hygienic food handling, but 'generally satisfactory' for food safety management and 'improvement necessary' for facility cleanliness.
Ratings can change after re-inspection
The FSA stresses that a food hygiene rating reflects the standards found at the time of inspection and can change after a business makes improvements and is inspected again. Businesses can appeal their rating, respond to it, or request a re-inspection through their local authority.
All four venues remain open and can seek updated ratings by contacting Bexley Council, which administers the scheme locally.
