Brussels Irish pub Kitty O'Shea's closed after food hygiene inspection

A popular Irish pub and restaurant in Brussels' EU district has been ordered to temporarily close after failing a food hygiene inspection.

Kitty O'Shea's, opposite the Berlaymont, was visited by inspectors from Belgium's Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) last week.

An Afsca spokeswoman said the food safety checks were made after receiving a complaint.

"Our inspectors found deficiencies in hygiene and infrastructure at the premises," she told The Bulletin. "These deficiencies justified the temporary closure of this establishment."

In a message posted outside the premises and on its Facebook page, Kitty O'Shea's said: "Your comfort, safety and enjoyment always come first.

"Following a small technical issue, we decided to take the opportunity to make a few small but lovely improvements around the venue."

The closure comes at the beginning of a busy period for many international bars in Brussels, with the Super Bowl and men's Six Nations rugby tournament closely followed by Saint Patrick's Day.

Kitty O'Shea's said it hoped to reopen "in around two weeks", adding: "Thank you for your understanding and continued support."

Afsca carries out thousands of unannounced random spot checks on food businesses each year, but also targeted inspections in the event of a complaint.

In 2024, the federal agency issued 3,200 food hygiene sanctions to restaurants and other food businesses in the Brussels region.

The sanctions can range from a warning - which is followed by a re-inspection at a later date - to, in more severe cases, an immediate order to close.

In 2024, Afsca received 758 complaints from consumers about food safety standards in Brussels restaurants and cafes. Some 74 businesses were ordered to temporarily close until food hygiene measures were improved.

A new online tool allows consumers to check the most recent food hygiene rating of any Belgian restaurant or other food business, including supermarkets, bakers and takeaway outlets.

Ratings range from excellent and very good to "to be improved" in the event of an unfavourable report from inspectors.

Kitty O'Shea's was approached for comment.