As Many As 800 Hotels, Guesthouses And B&Bs Require Improvements

Hundreds of hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs across the UK have received poor food hygiene ratings and require improvements, new research from Which? Travel has revealed.

More than 550 hotels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received scores of less than two on the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) six-point scale. A further 200-plus hotels in Scotland, which uses a different rating system, were deemed to need improvement.

Even luxury hotels were found to be failing to meet standards, with the four-star Lancaster London receiving just two stars from the FSA. The five-star Caledonian Waldorf Astoria in Edinburgh, meanwhile, received the lowest possible rating.

Although more than 12,000 hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs across the UK receive the highest ratings, there is a small minority that could be putting guests at risk. The FSA estimates that there are approximately 500,000 cases of food poisoning in the UK a year, thought to cause as many as 100 deaths.

If you or a loved one has suffered food poisoning due to poor hygiene standards, our illness solicitors could help you claim compensation. Visit our Food Poisoning Claims page for more information.

Expert Opinion

These are very worrying findings which raise serious concerns regarding the hygiene standards at some hotels across the UK. <br/> <br/>“Anyone staying at a hotel, regardless of its star rating, would expect that the highest hygiene standards would be upheld to ensure they have a comfortable stay. However, this research calls into question whether many sites are doing everything they can to protect their guests from the risks of food poisoning or other illnesses. <br/> <br/>“The dangers of such illnesses should be underestimated and we see hundreds of cases every year when people’s stays at hotels in the UK and abroad have been ruined as a result of hygiene issues which could and should have been avoided. <br/> <br/>“Some hotels in particular need to view this research as a wake-up call and ensure that hygiene is a top priority. Amandeep Dhillon - Partner