A Watford takeaway has been given a 1/5 food hygiene rating, with its management of food safety called out.

Mr Potato & Ms Pizza, in St Albans Road, was inspected by the borough council on April 30 and had its score published today (May 29).

The restaurant specialises in loaded chips and unique pizzas, with its menu also including other dishes such as burgers, chicken strips and nachos.

It was told “major” improvement is needed in terms of its management of food safety and improvement is also necessary in the hygienic food handling category.

The cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building was found “generally satisfactory”.

Mr Potato & Ms Pizza owner Alex Gherghinis told the Watford Observer that he was disappointed with the “harsh” result and claimed that there was no problem directly related to examples of unsafe food.

Watford Observer: The restaurant says all its temperature checks are now correct.The restaurant says all its temperature checks are now correct. (Image: Mr Potato & Ms Pizza)

Several of the issues were apparently the result of a recent change in layout, but Mr Gherghinis says that all problems highlighted by the inspector in April have been addressed.

He said that an additional door has been installed between the hallway and kitchen after this was raised as a problem with the new layout. Floor paint has been redone after it was found to be peeling off, and a fridge that was found displaying the wrong temperature for the salad bar was replaced.

There were also issues with documentation, a missing wash basin sign, and chicken in the fridge not being labelled properly.

Watford Observer: A missing wash basin sign has now been put up.A missing wash basin sign has now been put up. (Image: Mr Potato & Ms Pizza)

The owner said he was on holiday when the inspection was carried out and left someone else in charge of health and safety and food management documents, who then did not fill them in correctly.

Outside of that week, Mr Gherghinis says the documents are usually done properly.

Chicken Fajita has been taken off the menu since the inspection, after the restaurant said the advised temperature for storage would not work.

Mr Potato and Ms Pizza has appealed its rating. It also requested a revisit which is expected sometime after July 30, and expects to return to the 5/5 rating it held previously.