SEVERAL low food hygiene ratings have been handed out to pubs, nightclubs and bars in south Essex this year.

Food hygiene ratings are handed out by the Food Standards Agency and the scheme hands businesses a rating from five to zero.

A rating of five means hygiene standards are very good and if businesses are rated zero urgent improvement is required.

South Essex is known for having many pubs, bars and nightclubs for residents to enjoy a fun night out.

Here are the pubs, bars and nightclubs in south Essex given poor food hygiene ratings this year.

Riley’s Sports Bar, Benfleet

This sports bar in Benfleet High Street is a chain bar that shows big screen-sport with snooker tables and dartboards.

The bar had it’s latest inspection on May 12 this year and was handed a food hygiene rating of one putting it in the ‘major improvement necessary’ category.

Riley Sports Bar’s hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of its facilities and building was rated as generally satisfactory.

However its management of food safety which involves ‘systems or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat’ was rated as major improvement necessary.

The Naval and Military Club, Southend

The Naval and Military Club in Royal Terrace, Southend, is a social club open to everyone offering drinks, food, games and event nights.

Its latest inspection on June 21 this year saw the club handed a rating of one, described as major improvement necessary

Both hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of facilities and building at the club were rated as improvement necessary.

Management of food safety of the club was rated as major improvement necessary.

Barru Turkish Grill Meze and Bar, Westcliff

This restaurant and bar in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, had its latest inspection on March 31.

Hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of facilities and building were rated as improvement necessary

Management of food safety was rated as major improvement necessary.

Hero’s, Southend

A food hygiene was conducted in Hero’s sports bar in Southchurch Road, Southend, on March 24.

It was rated as two and classed as improvement necessary with hygienic food handling and management of food safety classed as generally satisfactory.

However, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building was rated as improvement necessary.