Watford’s new Mexican bar and restaurant has received its first food hygiene rating after it launched in the former Columbia Press unit.

Jardin, in The Parade, has been rated 4/5 after food hygiene inspectors visited the eatery on July 31 a few weeks after it launched.

Its cleanliness and condition of facilities, and hygiene food handling were both said to be ‘good’, while the management of food safety was ‘generally satisfactory’.

(Image: Newsquest) The unit was vacant for months after the JD Wetherspoon closed down in February 2023 in a “commercial decision”.

(Image: Newsquest)

It underwent a £1.3 million refurbishment before the new eatery launched earlier this summer serving authentic Mexican food and cocktails.

Another eatery in The Parade, Café Bianco, was also included in the latest round of scores as it is rated 3/5 after it was inspected on July 31, a downgrade from its previous 4/5 rating last year.

Its hygienic food handling was said to be ‘good’, while the cleanliness of the building and management of food safety were ‘generally satisfactory’.