Photos reveal the truth behind zero food hygiene ratings

Photos revealed by the ECHO show the conditions found by Wirral inspectors inside four food businesses

Grim new images show what health inspectors found inside four of Wirral’s food firms following visits that landed them with the worst possible food hygiene rating.

Wirral Council regularly inspects all food businesses in the borough to check that they are safe and hygienic. Based on these inspections they are given a food hygiene rating.

People can also raise complaints about food businesses. On its website, the council said: “It is important that our officers’ time is spent dealing with matters where there is a risk to the health of the public at large.”

Restaurants are graded on a scale of zero to five. If a restaurant is given a five rating, that means the food hygiene standards found are very good but if a restaurant is handed a zero rating, that means urgent improvement is necessary.

Food hygiene ratings are published on the Food Standards Agency website based on inspections carried out by Wirral Council environmental health officers. Nine businesses are currently given zero food hygiene ratings with five of these from inspections in 2025.

Following a Freedom of Information request, the ECHO received the reports and photos behind four of these ratings showing in some cases the shocking conditions found. These include dead cockroaches, mouse droppings, dirt, grease, and grime.

The Masonic Hall in Wallasey

The Masonic Hall in Wallasey was built in 1911 with a choice of different function suites. According to the wedding planning website Hitched, “Infused with natural light and understated refinement, Wallasey Masonic Hall is a timeless space for a ceremony and wedding reception.”

However, the hall was slammed in its latest food hygiene inspection by Wirral Council, which saw the venue given the lowest possible rating of zero. Inspectors on March 26 said urgent improvement was necessary, and the business voluntarily closed.

The latest food hygiene report said a voluntary prohibition notice had been served in March “closing the premises due to the discovery of widespread evidence of mouse activity throughout the premises.” The business received the worst possible scores for food hygiene in all areas.

The report said droppings were found throughout the kitchen, rear prep room, and pan store, adding: “Mouse droppings were found on the floor behind and under equipment, fridges, freezers, workbenches, and fittings.

“Droppings were also found on the shelf next to plates and food containers in the kitchen, on the worktop in the rear preparation area next to the food mixer, in the kitchen on the shelves next to food in packets and a box of bread and in the pan store to the side of the washing machine.

"You were not aware of the infestation, and there was no evidence that your pest control contractor had been recently as their last report was dated December 2023 and no other paperwork was available in your records.”

Mike Ireland, the secretary for the Wallasey Masonic Hall, said the venue had recently spent £80,000 completely renewing and redesigning the kitchen to a high standard. He told the ECHO: “Having had a five-star rating for the last 15 years, we are proud of our record and to be inspected, but horrified to find the signs of a mouse, especially as we have regular pest control inspections.

“We immediately and voluntarily closed the kitchen. Our regular pest control company found that it appeared to be a single mouse that had come in the open back door and not a true infestation. However, we carried out a thorough and intense scrub down of all surfaces and removal/cleaning/replacement of all cookers/fridges/freezers etc. All non-frozen food was discarded etc.

“The inspector returned on Monday 31st March at our request and gave us a clean bill of health to reopen. However, it will be August before they can inspect again to give us back our five stars.”

Wirral Change

Wirral Change, a charity based on St Laurence Drive, provides a number of services aimed at empowering and supporting ethnic minority communities across Wirral. It looks to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment and has been operating since 2006.

However the business was slapped with the lowest possible food hygiene rating following an inspection by Wirral Council's environmental health service of its kitchens and food stores on April 2 this year. The business voluntarily closed the kitchen to allow it to address the issues found.

A report from the April inspection said there was “widespread evidence of mouse activity.” Photos provided to the ECHO show mouse droppings found under counter units in the kitchen, on the floor in the dining room, inside a Croc left on the floor, and on a store room shelf alongside grease and dirt.

Yang Liu, the charity’s general manager said: “It is of course heart-breaking to receive the outcome of the food hygiene inspection in April. As a long-standing charity dedicated to supporting Wirral’s ethnic minority communities, our primary focus has always been on providing tailored support services such as advice, employment, resettlement, and well-being support.

“The community hub, where occasional free meals are offered to those facing food insecurity, has not been a central part of our service delivery.

“The inspection provided a valuable opportunity for us to learn and make immediate and lasting improvements. Since the report, the hub has been placed under the management of an experienced staff member who ensures that all hygiene procedures are strictly followed.

“We have increased the frequency of pest control visits to once every two weeks and take prompt action based on their advice. Any potential entry points or vulnerable areas have been professionally sealed to prevent any risk of infestation.

“While we have always maintained regular cleaning routines, we have now enhanced these efforts by introducing a professional deep-cleaning service on a scheduled basis to ensure our hygiene standards are consistently met and exceeded. All food is clearly labelled and handled in line with proper health and safety procedures.

“We are now awaiting a follow-up inspection and are confident that, thanks to the measures we’ve implemented, a significant improvement will be recognised. We remain fully committed to offering a safe and supportive space for our community and will continue to ensure that all our services, including the community hub, meet the highest standards.”

The Sham Shop

The Sham Shop is now closed, blaming road works in the area for this. A letter sent on February 25 said Wirral Council food hygiene inspectors had visited the business on Grange Road West on three occasions.

They said: “The standards found at the time of the initial inspection were not acceptable due to the widespread activity of cockroaches and mouse activity noted in the retail shop. Such conditions presented an imminent risk of injury to health.”

Following a further visit, it was found the necessary works to remove the imminent risk to health were carried out and a certificate was issued allowing the business to reopen. While some of the points raised in the letter had been addressed, the business was still given a food hygiene rating of zero.

On February 6, a cluster of dead cockroaches was found on the floor in front of the display chiller to the butchery as well as five dead cockroaches in other areas. On that date, droppings were found in five separate places while remnants of shredded bait were found next to bags of salt.

On February 13, four dead cockroaches were found in four areas while two baby cockroaches were found under pallets. Two live cockroaches were found under a chest freezer and the shutter at the entrance to the shop but no mouse activity was found.

On February 19, one live cockroach was found on the wall at the entrance to the butchery and mouse droppings were found down the side of a pallet storing salt and chipatti flour. Inspectors said this appeared to be the same as found during the initial visit.

The report said: “It is imperative that excellent controls are in place now and long term to ensure that the pest activity is adequately controlled.”

The Sham Shop is no longer operating and a representative for the business said it was not linked to the current business now at the address. Sham (AO) Limited, the company the letter was addressed to is still operating, according to Companies House.

A representative for the Sham Shop said the food hygiene rating was not the reason why the business closed, adding: “When the roadworks started, the shop was already struggling and then we started to look for people to try and sell the business on. The sales were going down because of the roadworks.”

The ECHO has previously reported how regeneration works in Birkenhead town centre have had an impact on businesses in the area due to the disruption caused by the construction.

In response to these concerns, Wirral Council has previously promoted the fact the town centre remains open for business with pedestrian access maintained for businesses and some work taking place outside of trading hours to minimise disruption.

Yeung Sing Fish and Chips

Yeung Sing Fish and Chips on Old Chester Road was slapped with a zero food hygiene rating following an inspection in February 2025. While given higher scores for hygiene and structure, it was given the worst possible score for confident in management.

According to a report produced by Wirral Council environment health officers, they noticed within minutes there was no adequate supply of hot water available for washing and preparing food, washing hands after preparing food or going to the loo, or for cleaning and disinfecting utensils. This was because a downstairs boiler wasn't working.

The report said officers were told it had been like this for two to three days but no engineer had been called to sort it out. There was no other alternative means of supplying hot water.

Officers then offered the business the option to voluntarily close until there was a supply of hot water. However officers said the boss at the restaurant "became agitated at the prospect of closing again" and "left the premises after an altercation." The head chef then signed the notice on his behalf.

While the officer was writing out the legal notice, a customer came to pick up an order. They added: "I explained that the business was closed and she could not be served but despite this [the head of the business] ran after her onto the pavement and said he would deliver the order later and took the address and cash off the lady.

"When he returned to the shop I told him he could not serve food and told him to give a refund. He ran out after the customer and gave her the money back. I reminded him that you could not serve food until a health certificate was issued saying you could reopen."

A number of recommendations were put forward to help the business improve its food hygiene rating. The business was praised for bringing in a food hygiene trainer, a translated version of guidance, and carrying out food hygiene training.

The restaurant was later allowed to open after the boiler was fixed though other concerns were also found by food hygiene inspectors. Yeung Sing Fish and Chips was approached for comment.