A Liverpool restaurant owned by celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo has turned its fortunes around after previously being given a one-star hygiene rating.
Earlier this year, it was revealed how the venue on Old Hall Street fell short of expected food hygiene standards when paid a visit by Liverpool Council’s environmental health officials in January. Information made available online by the Food Standards Agency said major improvements were needed at the venue at the INNSiDE Liverpool hotel in the former Liverpool ECHO building on Old Hall Street. The ECHO moved to nearby Liverpool city centre premises in 2018.
An earlier report released to the ECHO under a Freedom of Information request detailed how the business was warned of improvements it needed to make in terms of how it dealt with food back in September 2022. On that occasion, the restaurant was awarded a three out of five hygiene rating and deemed to be generally satisfactory.
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A third inspection within six months has confirmed local authority inspectors are now satisfied with the conditions at the Italian chef’s second business in the city, with a rating of five out of five awarded on March 30. A spokesman for Mr D’Acampo thanked the business’s partners and guests for their loyalty during the last half year.
A report released in February, shared with the ECHO via FOI request, detailed how the business was told it was not following food safety management procedure. Some of the issues identified in that inspection were repeated issues of non-compliance noted at the previous inspection in September 2022.
The hotel opened in September following extensive renovations to the building after the ECHO's move to new offices across the road in St Paul's Square in 2018. The 17-floor development includes the city's second Gino D'Acampo restaurant, which has a sky bar.
In January, officers found that a number of foods were still in a walk-in fridge with expired manufacturers use-by dates. Napoli style sausage was found to be a week out of date while 18 tortelloni pumpkins had a use by-date ranging from January 3-15.
The offending food was voluntarily disposed of according to the report, with time frames set by the local authority to rectify issues. Mr D’Acampo’s first venture opened its doors in the former HSBC bank building on Castle Street almost six years ago and was replaced by the 200-cover Riva Blu.
A spokesperson for Gino D’Acampo Hotels and Leisure said: “We welcome the results of the latest inspection and look forward to continuing to provide a five-star dining experience to our guests as we prepare to launch our exciting programme of summer events. We'd like to take the opportunity to thank our partners and guests for their continued loyalty."
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