Mabel's cafe at Shallowmead Nurseries in Boldre given zero-star hygiene rating by NFDC environmental health officers

A BOLDRE café has been given a zero-star hygiene rating after inspectors found food safety standards to be well below par.

Mabel’s at Shallowmead Nurseries in Boldre Lane was visited by New Forest District Council’s environmental health team at the end of last year.

The full report is not yet available, but details on the Food Standard’s Agency website reveal “major improvements” were needed around food handling, including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.

Inspectors also pointed out that food safety management, including systems and checks to ensure food was safe to eat, was well below standard, and cleanliness was not as it should be.

Of the five stars available, the cafe received a zero rating.

The restaurant manager was not available for comment due to the eatery being closed for scheduled maintenance work, but the manager of the nurseries, Lyndon Thompson, said issues would be resolved before Mabel’s reopens.

“The café is undoubtably a much-loved local eating place,” he said.

“Shallowmead is keen to promote the very highest standards across all areas of our business and this will not change.”

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is run by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities, and aims to help the public make informed decisions about where to eat.