A total of 16 venues across Colchester have been given new ratings the Food Standards Agency’s website shows.

The inspections are carried out by the local authority and findings are updated on the FSA website whenever there is a new inspection conducted by the council. 

We have looked at establishments which serves food, from cafes to bars and hotels to takeaways.

There are six different ratings that a venue can be awarded from 0 to 5.

5 - Hygiene standards are very good

4 – Hygiene standards are good

3 – Hygiene standards are generally satisfactory

2 – Some improvement is necessary

1 – Major improvement is necessary

0 – Urgent improvement is required

Inspectors look at a few different key elements when assessing the hygiene of a restaurant including: 

How hygienically the food is handled- such as how its prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled, and stored.

The condition of the structure of the buildings – the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, and other facilities.

How the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe and so that the officer can be confident standards will be maintained in the future.

Restaurants, cafes and canteens

The following ratings have been given to 11 restaurants, cafes or canteens:

• Rated 5: Jenkins Cafe at 42 St Johns Street, Colchester, Essex; rated on March 11

• Rated 5: The Exchange at 33 Church Road, Tiptree, Essex; rated on March 4

• Rated 5: The Chequers at Chequers Inn, The Street, Great Tey, Essex; rated on February 29

• Rated 5: Subway at 34 Sir Isaacs Walk, Colchester, Essex; rated on February 28

• Rated 5: Mission Cafe at Innovation Centre, Boundary Road, Colchester, Essex; rated on February 20

• Rated 5: Oak Tree Coffee House at 4 Highwoods Square, Colchester, Essex; rated on February 9

• Rated 5: Tiptree Spice at 126 Church Road, Tiptree, Essex; rated on January 4

• Rated 5: Marks & Spencer Stane Retail Park at Marks & Spencer Unit A1-A3, Stane Retail Park, Western Approach, Stanway; rated on December 28

• Rated 5: Greggs PLC at Greggs Unit F, Stane Retail Park, Western Approach, Stanway; rated on December 21

• Rated 5: Dog & Pheasant at Dog And Pheasant, 24 Nayland Road, Colchester, Essex; rated on December 18

• Rated 5: Tesco Family Dining Ltd at Tesco Family Dining Tesco Supermarket, Highwoods Square, Colchester, Essex; rated on December 7

Pubs, bars and nightclubs

And one rating has been handed to a pub, bar or nightclub:

• Rated 5: Ye Olde Marquis at 24-25 North Hill, Colchester, Essex; rated on February 28

Takeaways

Plus four ratings for takeaways:

• Rated 5: Pizza Town at 13 The Centre, New Road, Tiptree, Essex; rated on March 6

• Rated 5: Happy Wok at 25 East Street, Colchester, Essex; rated on February 27

• Rated 5: EATS AT HOME LTD at Eats At Home Ltd, 52 St Andrews Gardens, Colchester, Essex; rated on February 26

• Rated 3: Go Burger Colchester at 56 London Road, Colchester, Essex; rated on December 7