
Dark Saffron in New Milton Closes Months After One-Star Hygiene Rating – SFBB Pro
A once-popular spot for curry lovers in New Milton, Dark Saffron, has quietly closed its doors just months after the restaurant was hit with a one-star hygiene rating. For regulars, the news might not come as a total shock. Still, the abrupt end marks a sad chapter for a place that, for years, promised âauthentic Indian cuisineâ in the heart of Hampshire.
Dark Saffron had built up a loyal following, thanks to a menu packed with familiar classics and a handful of chefâs specials that locals swore by. Walk by on a Friday night, and youâd usually see the place buzzing. But all that changed this spring, when the Food Standards Agency slapped the restaurant with just one star out of five after a routine inspection. The main issues? âMajor improvement necessaryâ on cleanliness and food safety, according to the official report.
What followed was a familiar story: fewer bookings, quieter weekends, and a stream of negative reviews online. For many, the hygiene rating was a red flag they couldnât ignore. âWe had been regulars, but after seeing the report, we just didnât feel comfortable going back,â said one New Milton resident. Others echoed the sentiment, describing the rating as a âdealbreakerâ in a town where thereâs no shortage of competition.
Attempts to reach the owners of Dark Saffron for comment have been unsuccessful. The restaurantâs phone line rings unanswered, and its social media pages have gone dark. A sign in the window simply reads, âClosed until further notice.â Thereâs been no official explanationâjust rumours that the rating, combined with rising costs and dwindling customers, made it impossible to keep going.
Itâs not the first time a low hygiene score has spelled trouble for a local eatery. According to data from the Food Standards Agency, restaurants with ratings of one or zero stars are far more likely to close within a year of their inspection. Customers today are quick to check those ratings online, and a single bad report can undo years of goodwill.
For Dark Saffron, the timing couldnât have been worse. The hospitality sector is already under pressure from higher food prices, staff shortages, and a cautious public still getting used to eating out post-pandemic. Add in a scathing hygiene report, and even the busiest kitchen can empty out overnight.
The closure leaves a gap on Station Road and a few unanswered questions. Will someone else take over the premises? Can Dark Saffron make a comeback under new management? For now, all that remains is a shuttered storefront and a warning for other restaurants: in todayâs world, a poor hygiene score isnât just a slap on the wristâitâs often the beginning of the end.
If youâre curious about which restaurants are rated safest in the area, itâs always worth checking the Food Standards Agency website before booking a table. In a town where word travels fast, reputation is everythingâand, as Dark Saffron learned, it can unravel in a matter of months.
SFBB Pro food safety app can help all restaurant owners maintain a positive hygiene rating to avoid any negative publicity and loss of custom.
Visit https://www.SfbbPro.co.uk to sign up and get started
#Dark #Saffron #Milton #Closes #Months #OneStar #Hygiene #Rating #SFBB #Pro
You may also like
Archives
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
Calendar
M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Leave a Reply