A POPULAR restaurant which was given a zero hygiene rating in August has now been re-inspected and awarded a four.

The Stuffed Dormouse which is known for its Sunday lunches and exotic meat dishes and is located in Caerleon - was given a zero following an inspection by a food safety officer who visited the establishment on July 12.

Owner Simone Ansen said the rating had dropped from a five star rating because “the cleanliness of our kitchen had temporarily dipped from our usual high standards.”

After receiving the rating Ms Ansen said: "The employment of a new chef brought to my attention that there had been oversights and plans were immediately put in place for improvements before the inspection that occurred three days later.

“The relevant paperwork could not be located when the inspection was taking place, which was an oversight on my part."

However, after applying for a reinspection with Newport City Council and receiving the new hygiene rating of four, Ms Ansen said she is "very pleased" with the new rating and has thanked her customers for "staying loyal" throughout their time of the zero rating.

Ms Ansen also said the restaurant has a new, modernised kitchen to comply with inspector regulations which she has spent more than £20,000 on.

She said: "Since the inspection took place we have had a change around here. There has been a change of chefs and a new kitchen.

"I am more on the ball and have received my merit in Level Three supervising food safety in catering.

"We want to thank our customers who have supported us throughout this time and have kept coming.

"We are back in the game and we will be moving forwards now."

Businesses given ratings of zero are told that they must make urgent or major improvements to hygiene standards. The local authority food safety officer will use a number of enforcement tools as well as giving advice and guidance to make sure these improvements are made.

The food safety officer will also inform the business how quickly these improvements must be made and this will depend on the type of issue that needs to be addressed.

Food hygiene ratings can be found online on the Food Standards Agency website at ratings.food.gov.uk.