Manchester’s brand new £1m pink restaurant hit with one-star food hygiene rating

Manchester’s all-pink £1m bar and restaurant Boujee was awarded a one-star food hygiene rating in an inspection last month.

After opening its doors down Bridge Street in May, the restaurant underwent a routine inspection the Food Standards Agency on July 14th – however, inspectors slapped the venue with just a one-star rating while noting that ‘major improvement’ is required.

The restaurant, which has become well-known for its unique pink decor and its menu of sushi and other small plates, was assessed using three different categories, according to the Food Standards Agency website.

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The venue’s hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage was marked as generally satisfactory. However, the cleanliness and the condition of the facilities and the building requires necessary improvement, and the management of food safety within the venue requires major improvement.

Boujee management quickly insisted that the rating was due to a ‘facilities issue’ and the repairs have already been completed with an application ‘put in for a re-visit and rescore.’

The bar’s sister venue, Terrace by Boujee, which sits next door on Bridge Street, was awarded five-stars, the top food hygiene rating, just days later on July 19th.

Operations Director at Boujee, Ritchie Bagnall, said on the disappointing rating: “Boujee Restaurant & Bar Manchester trades within a shared building, with the communal services managed by the landlord. On the date of inspection the poor rating occurred due to a facilities issue which falls within the remit of aforementioned landlord.

@boujeebarandrestaurant / Instagram

“The environmental health were entirely happy with our food and hygiene standards and the systems and processes which we have in place.

“The landlord was aware of the structural issue and the repairs were already underway and being managed through our facilities manager. Within 24 hours, the environmental health returned for a follow up visit and were happy that the works had been completed.

“We are extremely disappointed that an issue created by the landlord has reflected poorly upon Boujee Restaurant. We have immediately applied for a re-visit and rescore as we are highly confident that we will receive a 5* rating, akin with our sister restaurant, The Terrace by Boujee. 

“Boujee Restaurants employ a wealth of experience and fully trained food, service and health and safety managers within our company across all sites. We are looking forward to receiving a re-visit and being awarded a score that reflects the quality of our venue.”