A café located within a railway station has received the poorest food safety rating available.
The Station Express Café at Bognor Station was awarded a zero-star classification following an inspection by food safety officials on March 9.
The rating indicates that immediate corrective action is required and represents the minimum score a business can obtain.
This places Station Express among merely three establishments holding a zero-star rating throughout the Arun District, positioning it within the lowest 0.23 percent of 1,329 businesses operating in the region.
Inspectors determined the café needed enhancement across all three evaluation categories.
The standard of hygienic food handling, encompassing preparation, cooking, reheating, cooling, and storage practices, received a rating of improvement required.
The standard of cleanliness and building condition was deemed to require substantial improvement, while the administration of food safety protocols was assessed as demanding urgent corrective measures.
The cleanliness and facilities assessment examines whether a business maintains suitable layout design, ventilation systems, handwashing amenities, and pest management procedures to support proper food hygiene standards.
Food safety management entails demonstrating that systems and monitoring procedures exist to guarantee food products are safe for consumption, along with confirmation that employees possess adequate food safety knowledge.
Establishments receiving poor hygiene ratings must implement immediate or significant enhancements, and food safety inspectors possess the authority to suspend portions of operations or shut premises entirely should an immediate threat to public health be identified.
The rating scheme, ranging from zero to five stars, carries no legal obligation for businesses in England to display their classification, in contrast to requirements in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Bognor Station, which originally opened its doors in 1864, accommodates more than one million travellers annually.
Representatives from Station Express Café have been contacted for a response.