A NUMBER of cafés, pubs, restaurants and takeaways across Dorset and the New Forest have been handed new food hygiene ratings recently. 

Each week, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) inspects businesses across the country, assessing hygiene and safety, structural compliance and confidence in management.   

Across the UK, every food outlet including convenience stores, restaurants, hospitals and care homes are given a hygiene rating. 

What each hygiene rating means:   

0 - Urgent improvement necessary   

1 - Major improvement necessary  

2 - Some improvement necessary   

3 - Hygiene standards generally satisfactory   

4 - Hygiene standards good  

5 - Hygiene standards very good   

Here is a roundup of scores given by the FSA this week: 

Rated 2: 

Indian Tree, a takeaway in Market Place, Ringwood was given the score after assessment on August 6. 

Belinda's Bakery in High Street, Fordingbridge was rated on April 27

Rated 3: 

The Bell Inn in Lyndhurst Road, Brook, was handed a three-out-of-five rating after assessment on August 5. 

Sena Italian in West Street, Ringwood was given the score after assessment on August 3  

Rated 5:  

Elephant & Castle in Station Road, West Moors was rated on August 21 

India Cottage in Christchurch Road, Ringwood was rated on September 6