A TOP Bournemouth restaurant has been given a zero food hygiene rating after food inspectors launched an investigation.

‘Urgent improvement is necessary’ at The Crab in the Park Central Hotel, Exeter Road after an impromptu inspection earlier this year.

The seafood restaurant currently holds two AA Rosettes and its chefs are ‘Michelin-star trained’, according to the website.

Inspectors raised concerns under the category ‘management of food safety’, which includes assessment of the system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat and evidence that staff know about food safety.

However, the inspectors also found improvements are also needed in categories ‘hygienic food handling’, which includes preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage, as well as ‘cleanliness and condition of facilities and building to enable good food hygiene’.

Louise Jones, Bournemouth council environmental health manager, said further inspections are planned.

“In June this year the council received a complaint regarding The Crab restaurant in Exeter Road that warranted an immediate investigation,” she said.

“As a result of this complaint a thorough investigation was carried out at the premises, followed by a full food hygiene inspection.

“A number of visits have been made to the business by environmental health officers to ensure compliance in the matters that were raised. Due to the business receiving a low food hygiene rating a further full food hygiene inspection will be made within the next few months.”

Seafood mains on the à la carte menu begin at £18.95 for ‘The Crab’s posh fish and chips’, while lobster linguine is £26.95.

The restaurant also offers delicacies including sashimi tuna tartar, scallops and octopus.

The manager of the Park Central Hotel had not returned calls from the Daily Echo at the time of going to press.

As reported earlier this week, the Holdenhurst Road branch of Wok 2 Go has been shut down by health inspectors after a rat infestation was discovered. Council officials say the takeaway won’t reopen until it is “fully compliant” with health rules.