Fried chicken shop chain closes store after zero hygiene rating
BBCA Slims Chicken restaurant in Cardiff has been awarded a zero food hygiene rating.
The American chain restaurant in St David's Shopping Centre shut temporarily after a food hygiene inspection on June 29, two months after it was awarded a five-star rating.
Slim Chickens UK is owned and operated by the Boparan Restaurant Group, which said it "voluntarily closed" the branch after being made "aware of an issue".
It has now re-opened and is awaiting a re-inspection, it said.
But a food safety expert has said she was "surprised"at the sudden change of rating.
On the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website, the restaurant is currently listed as having a zero hygiene rating.
It said "major improvement" was needed in the management of food safety and the cleanliness and condition of the facility.
The FSA also said improvements had to be made in the handling of food, including when preparing, cooking and storing it.
Environmental health officers rate establishments where food is supplied, stored or eaten from zero to five, and inspections are described as a "snapshot" of the hygiene standards found at the time.
It also judges how food safety is managed more widely including a business's training, processes and systems.
Slim Chickens, which opened its first Welsh restaurant in the shopping centre in 2018, is known for its chicken tenders and wings.
It has since opened branches in Bridgend and Swansea.
Dr Julie Rasmussen, founder of food safety consultants Infinitas Food Safety in Cardiff, said she was "surprised" the venue was downgraded from a five to a zero rating in two months, and that a zero rating meant urgent improvement was necessary.
She said a restaurant could receive a second inspection within two months if new information had been received.
Rasmussen added the way local authorities regulate food businesses in general had become more risk-based.
"This means businesses will not necessarily receive the same type or frequency of intervention," she said.
"Businesses with poorer ratings can expect more targeted inspections, while those with stronger compliance records may receive a questionnaire, telephone call or other form of assessment."
Businesses in Wales are legally required to display their ratings in a prominent place in the business.
All businesses must also provide information on their rating verbally if requested in person or over the phone.
Slim Chickens said it was "committed to the highest food safety standards" and that the restaurant was awarded a five-star hygiene rating in April 2026.
They said the decision was made to "voluntarily close for refurbishments in June as soon as we became aware of an issue".
"Since completing the work in mid-July, the restaurant has achieved exemplary hygiene scores in internal and independent audits, and we are awaiting a re-inspection by Vale of Glamorgan's Environmental Health team," it said.
