IT is the city street where the majority of food businesses are rated five star by inspectors - but is it Worcestershire’s best?

An impressive 15 of the 18 businesses in Friar Street, Worcester, that serve food have been given five stars in Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings. The ratings are judged by inspectors on various categories including how food is prepared, the condition of the structure of buildings, how it records what it does to make sure food is safe, and evidence staff know about food safety.

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The businesses in the street with the highest rating are Cafe Rouge, Cardinals Hat, Chung Ying Garden, Friar Street Kitchen, G and Tea, Globe Modern Bistro, Greyfriars House and Garden, Nando’s, Singapore Restaurant, Subway, Sugo, Thai Gallery Restaurant, Tudor House, Vue Cinema and Ye Olde Talbot.

In fact only Mac and Jacs, The Eagle Vaults and TJ’s Kitchen at The Conservatory are not listed as five star on the FSA website, instead having four star ratings, with Devi’s Place At The Eagle Vaults awaiting inspection.

The Worcester News has spoken to some of the businesses in the street, to see what they thought.

Jacek Gibalski, general manager at Cafe Rouge, said: “It is really good to be in this street. I would choose to be here, over the High Street. Customers say Friar Street is the best street in Worcester.”

Tonia Colett, from Tudor House Museum cafe, said: “It is certainly a big draw (having five star rated places) it attracts people knowing standards are high. Visitor numbers were up 20 per last year. We have cakes and scones delivered from another charity, Onside, our rating shows the food is high quality. Friar Street certainly is the prettiest place I have ever worked in.”

Nigel Preston, general manager of Ye Olde Talbot, said: “You have got almost everything you need in Friar Street. You have very good, quality businesses all offering something different. It is kept clean and tidy.

“We serve traditional English fare - I know the quality of our food is exceptional, we have had zero complaints.”

Worcester City councillor Adrian Gregson, vice chairman of place and economic development sub-committee, added: “Eating and drinking have never been more important in the success of Worcester’s city centre and the many high quality outlets on Friar Street are popular with visitors and residents alike.”