A popular Eastbourne establishment, Pizza Fratelli and Grill, finds itself under scrutiny after a recent food hygiene inspection delivered a shocking one-star rating from the Food Standards Agency, signaling that major improvement is urgently required. This unexpected downgrade has cast a spotlight on the restaurant, which prides itself on “serving up the best of both worlds, with delicious pizza and authentic Greek dishes.”
The one-star food hygiene rating, the second lowest on a six-point scale, means that significant action is necessary to address deficiencies identified during the assessment on June 27, 2025. Such a low score indicates critical areas needing immediate attention to ensure public safety and compliance with food safety regulations.
Food Standards Agency inspections evaluate businesses across three key categories: the hygienic handling of food, the cleanliness and condition of facilities, and the effective management of food safety. Each category is meticulously assessed to provide a comprehensive overview of a premises’ operational standards.
Specifically, the hygienic handling of food, which encompasses crucial processes like preparation, cooking, reheating, cooling, and storage, was deemed to require “improvement necessary.” This finding suggests that while some practices were acceptable, others fell short of the required standards, posing potential risks.
The most significant concerns, however, were pinpointed in the management of food safety category, where the inspection concluded that “major improvement necessary” was paramount. This indicates serious issues with the systems and checks in place designed to ensure food is consistently safe to eat, demanding immediate and substantial changes to the restaurant’s protocols.
A spokesperson for Pizza Fratelli and Grill expressed profound disappointment regarding the restaurant rating, emphasizing their prior five-star status. They stated that the issues identified were “very minor” and were already in the process of being rectified, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the inspector’s concerns swiftly.
To bolster their efforts, the restaurant confirmed that a comprehensive training refresher for staff on specific points is underway, expected to be completed by the end of the week. Pictures of the corrective actions will be submitted promptly to the FSA, with the aim of organizing a reinspection as soon as possible to regain a higher, more representative food hygiene score.
The Food Standards Agency underscores the gravity of such low ratings, stating that businesses given one star “must make urgent or major improvements to hygiene standards.” The agency maintains strict protocols to protect consumers, asserting that officers are empowered to act decisively if they find standards are “very poor” or if there is “an imminent risk to public health” where food may be unsafe to eat, highlighting the importance of diligent food safety practices.
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