The proprietors of the beloved Alfredos restaurant in Conwy have issued an apology following a zero food hygiene rating.
Alfredos, which opened its doors back in 1959, is believed to be the first Italian restaurant in North Wales. Richard Reynolds took over the establishment in 2023, with a significant refurbishment carried out just last year.
On July 17, food hygiene inspectors from Conwy council paid a visit to the restaurant, resulting in a zero food hygiene rating. In response to the inspection, the owners say they acted swiftly, implementing a “complete overhaul” in management and assuming operational oversight themselves, reports North Wales Live.
They’ve extended their apologies to patrons and requested a re-inspection from Conwy council.
The local authority’s report indicated that improvements were needed in the hygienic handling of food, including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.
Regarding the “cleanliness and condition of facilities and building”, it was deemed that “major improvement necessary”.
Significant enhancements were also required in the system or checks to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat and that staff are knowledgeable about food safety.
A spokesperson for the restaurant stated: “As owners we take our food hygiene rating of zero extremely seriously and recognise the concern this will cause our customers. We are sorry that we have fallen below the standards they rightly expect from us.
“Since the inspection we have had a complete overhaul in senior management, including replacing the general manager, operations executive and employing a new executive head chef.
“We have applied for a re-score and hope that the local council will carry this out promptly to help us begin the journey of restoring faith to our local customers who have supported us. Ourselves as owners have taken back full operational oversight since.”
The owners explained that during the inspection the “business was experiencing an unexpected and significant disruption to its management structure”.
They revealed that within 48 hours of the inspection, they had lodged a formal request for a re-rating inspection, “reflecting both the speed with which corrective action was taken and our confidence that the required standards are now being met”.
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