AN iconic ice cream parlour on Southend seafront has been told to improve after it was hit with a poor hygiene rating for the second time in 12 months.

Rossi’s Ice Cream Parlour, at 12 to 14 Western Esplanade, has been given a score of two out of five after a food hygiene inspection on March 25.

It marks a fall from the four out of five awarded last summer.

During the latest visit inspectors found food items were stored near insect killer and there was no running hot water.

The latest inspection comes just 12 months after the site was handed a one rating.

In the report, seen by the Echo, a number of issues that needed to be rectified were listed.

It found structural work was ongoing at time of inspection and Rossi was told despite this “hot water must still be available for hands”.

Staff must carry out allergen training and be “aware of correct contact time for sanitiser”.

The inspector told the team to “remove food items from under insect killer to prevent cross contamination” and ensure reusable clothes “are only used once to prevent cross contamination”.

Structural issues including poor flooring and tiling was noted and Rossi was told to repair this.

The site was taken over in November 2022 by Rossi Ice Cream after the company bought it back after 27 years.

The business was rated one-out of-five in March 2023 but bosses defended the rating saying they had only recently taken over the business.

Improvements were made and the ice cream parlour was given a four-out-of-five rating in September.

The scheme gives businesses a rating from five to zero, with five being hygiene standards are very good, and zero being urgent improvement is required.

The latest report overall stated there is “improvement necessary” for hygienic food handling, with “improvement necessary” for cleanliness and condition of facilities and building.

The management of food safety was found to be “generally satisfactory”.

The Echo made repeated attempts to contact Rossi’s over three days but it did not respond.