‘Ghost kitchen’ in Bristol for Deliveroo and Uber Eats closes after hygiene visit

A ‘ghost kitchen’ supplying fast food for Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats delivery apps in Bristol has closed suddenly aftfood hygiene inspectors ordered ‘major improvements’.

SB Cafe, in York Grove in Bedminster, served up food under multiple guises, including Hot Chick and Papi Taco on Uber Eats, and Rebel ‘Rito on Deliveroo and Just Eat.

As a ‘ghost kitchen’, the cafe, located on an industrial estate behind York Road, worked with third-party delivery companies to deliver prepared meals to customers.

But the cafe appears to have closed suddenly, and its ‘restaurants’ on the delivery apps are currently closed or unavailable. No-one was at the site to speak to yesterday (August 20), and no contact details can be found online.

The closure could be related to a recent food hygiene inspection by Bristol City Council which resulted in a 1-star rating, meaning ‘major improvement is necessary’. The visit was on July 25.

The inspectors were most concerned about the management of food safety, but also said improvement was necessary in the handling of food; which includes preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage. Cleanliness of the facilities and building was found to be ‘good’.

Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats require restaurant partners to hold, or be in the process of obtaining, a food hygiene rating of 2 or above.

Cities across the UK have seen a rise in ‘ghost kitchens’ operate for delivery apps. They are completely legal, and supply food on behalf of several delivery-only restaurants with no walk-in customers. Two years ago, Deliveroo opened an Editions Kitchen in Purdown hosting a range of restaurants.

And it’s not just food. A ‘dark store’ where items such as groceries are stored for delivery opened in Oxford Street in St Philips, near Bristol Temple Meads, as part of Deliveroo’s new service Deliveroo Hop last year.