MORE than 160 restaurants, cafes and pubs in the county have been told they must improve their food hygiene standards.

In Wiltshire, 3.5 per cent of food establishments (162) have been given a food hygiene rating of two or less.

In Dorset and Wiltshire as a whole, 2.8% of food establishments require improvement, lower than the overall England figure of 5%.

Local authority environmental health teams score food outlets from zero to five based on factors such as kitchen cleanliness, cooking methods and food management.

The scores are given to restaurants, pubs, cafes, takeaways, sandwich shops, supermarkets and delicatessens.

GMB Southern is calling for it to be made mandatory for hygiene ratings to be displayed at premises in England to improve hygiene standards, as is already the case in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Paul Maloney, GMB Southern Secretary, speaking in Brighton at the Labour Party conference said: "Consumers have an absolute right to know what score any outlet they may want to use has got.

"Those scoring low marks are much less likely to put them on show to customers.

"Food hygiene standards and compliance levels have risen since the scheme was introduced in Wales.

"Making the display of hygiene ratings on the door compulsory in England would incentivise food outlets to improve or maintain high hygiene standards. This would reduce the risk of illness for customers, improve consumer confidence and save taxpayers’ money by reducing the need for, and cost of, enforcement action by councils. Everyone wins."

In Salisbury, the following outlets received a rating of two or under:

Rated two (requires improvement):

  • Curry Land at Harham Fishbar, Norfolk Road
  • Tinkerbell Service Station, Barford St Martin
  • Gray Manor Hotel, Cholderton
  • Jubilee Cafe, Larkhill
  • Lees Fish and Chips, Milford Street
  • Bedwin Street Fisheries, Bedwin Street
  • Harbour, Salt Lane
  • Takhdir, Fisherton Street
  • Taste The World, Fisherton Street
  • The Asian Food Store, Fisherton Street
  • The Wig and Quill Inn, New Street
  • Pothead and Panface, Tidworth

Rated one (major improvement necessary):

  • Cedars at Salisbury Golf Centre, Wilton Road
  • Amesbury Spice, Earls Court Road
  • Boscombe Village Social and Working Men's Club, Tidworth
  • Burger King at Countess Services, Amesbury
  • Hanlega's at Church Farm Caravan and Camping, Sixpenny Handley
  • Maldives Indian Cuisine, Larkhill
  • Churchfields Cafe, Brunel Road
  • Eat and Go, Chicklade
  • Gurkha Variety Store Ltd, Tidworth
  • Hook and Glove Inn, Farley
  • Joseph's Burgers, Winterbourne Stoke
  • Qudos, Castle Street
  • Riverside Meats Butchers, Wilton
  • Rose and Crown, Bulford
  • Tandoori Nights, Amesbury
  • Wok With U, Durrington
  • Best One Xpress, Wilton Road
  • Carwardines, Bridge Street
  • Coffee Lab, Blue Boar Row
  • Dragon Restaurant, Fisherton Street
  • King's Wok, Fisherton Street
  • Pritchett Butchers, Fish Row
  • Sprinkles, New Canal
  • Thai Orchid, Fisherton Street
  • The Boathouse, Mill Stream Approach
  • The Horse and Groom, Wilton Road
  • The Jade, Exeter Street