Everybody wants to know the places they are eating are clean and hygienic - and food hygiene ratings are just the way to find peace of mind.

Like any business, even chain establishments like Costa Coffee are subject to food hygiene ratings, a rating system designed to give clear information about businesses’ hygiene standards.

Powys is home to several Costa locations, including in the high streets of some of its busiest towns, but where do they land on the Food Standards Agency rating system?

Below is a list of each outlet in Mid Wales and what they scored on the rating.

 

Welshpool - 5

Located on Broad Street, Welshpool’s Costa scored perfect marks on the rating system gaining 5 out of a possible 5.

The hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage was noted as being “very good”, as was the cleanliness and condition of facilities and building which included having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control to enable good food hygiene.

 

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In terms of the overall management in regards to food safety and whether or not the business had systems and checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and that the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future, the establishment also earned praise.

Newtown – 5

The Costa branch on Newtown’s High Street had previously scored just below a perfect rating, with some points for improvement, but still received an overall positive score. But after this piece was published, the branch got in touch to share their newly-acquired five-star hygiene rating. Well done all!

 

Brecon – 2

The lowest rated of Costa’s branches within Mid Wales, the outlet on Brecon’s high street was given a score of 2, meaning some improvement is necessary in order to achieve a higher rating from the Food Standards Agency.

While the hygiene of the branch’s food handling and their general management of food safety was deemed satisfactory, the condition and cleanliness of the facilities were noted as being in need of improvement by an inspection carried out in September 2023.