RESTAURANT owners have backed plans to make displaying food hygiene ratings compulsory as figures reveal more than 5,400 Oxfordshire businesses could face losing customers.

A law making food outlets show its rating in the window could be enforced within two years and a survey from business service company NFU Mutual revealed that scores of three or less were turning people away.

Figures revealed that 14.7 per cent of restaurants in Oxford – 1,281 – were rated three or lower, a figure which puts it in the bottom third nationwide.

But city restaurateurs backed the plans and hoped it would improve standards.

Smart Fish and Chips in Blackbird Leys recently scored a five-star rating after slipping to a four pending building repairs.

Owner Levent Koc said displaying the rating created trust between restaurateurs and their customers.

He said: “The rating is vital but having it displayed in the window is even more important – people need to know the hygiene level.

“We have created a trust with our customers over the years and they are confident in us and in our food.

“The standards are high in Oxford but you do see a few two and three stars around which is surprising – and there aren’t many fish and chip shops with five.”

He added: “A new law could help improve things, but businesses need to welcome the council in and work with them to up their standards.

“It’s about the people who work there and put the effort in and not the shop or restaurant itself.”

It is currently law in Wales where businesses can face a fine of up to £200 if they don’t display the rating in a ‘conspicuous’ place.

Mobile trading van Gourdans Steak Frites, which has recently been awarded a sought-after spot in the city centre, has always had the rating stuck to its window.

Owner Matt Jeffery said all businesses should have to show their score.

He said: “We know from our trading experience and from our customers that the hygiene rating is crucial.

“Our customers actively seek out our rating before coming to see us – it’s becoming like a Trip Advisor review and if it’s not good people will go somewhere else.”

West Oxfordshire District Council performed the best in the county, with just 6.5 per cent of restaurants with three or lower, followed by Cherwell with 10.3 and South Oxfordshire with 14.3.

Vale of White Horse District Council fared the worst with 15.66 per cent.

Collectively more than 5,400 restaurants in Oxfordshire currently have a rating of three or below.

The NFU Mutual survey showed 44 per cent of customers would snub their favourite place to eat if they knew its hygiene rating was three of below.

Hospitalities sector specialist Darren Seward said: “Our report shows that when it comes to food safety customers have naturally high standards and that a ‘good’ score can no longer be seen as an aspiration but a minimum benchmark.

“Hopefully, any future legislation will drive excellence in food safety and it’s important that businesses don’t forget that the ratings are there to keep people safe as well as to uphold their place in a competitive market.”

A Government consultation on the new legislation is due to take place this year.