Holdi, an Indian restaurant in Woolton, Liverpool, that has welcomed Hollywood and football stars, has been handed a zero food hygiene rating by environmental health inspectors from Liverpool City Council. The inspection took place on September 14, shortly after the restaurant hosted UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett.
Celebrity favourite and award-winning history
Holdi, located on Woolton Street, is widely considered one of the city's most popular curry houses. It opened in 2012 and won best Indian cuisine at the Liverpool Lifestyle Awards in 2016 and 2017. Last year, it was named in the top 10 Liverpool curry houses at the English Curry Awards.
The restaurant quickly became a favourite of soap stars from Hollyoaks and Coronation Street. In 2024, Elijah Wood and his Lord of the Rings co-star Billy Boyd dined there while in the city for Comic Con. Elijah reportedly told staff it was the "best Indian he had ever had." Footballers Anthony Gordon, Harvey Elliott, and Sean Dyche have also frequented the restaurant, as has Paddy Pimblett, who was pictured with staff in early September.
Generator failure and inspection findings
According to a Food Standards Agency report, the inspection resulted in a zero rating out of five, with a statement that "urgent improvement is necessary." The report said major improvement is needed in food hygiene and safety and structural compliance, while urgent improvement is required in management confidence, citing a "poor track record of compliance."
Owner Najer Hossain explained that electrical issues led to the use of a generator, which failed on the night of September 13 due to insufficient diesel. This affected fridge and freezer temperatures, prompting a voluntary closure on the day of the inspection. The inspector also noted unsatisfactory wiring and food debris in hard-to-reach areas. Hossain added that the operational manager and main chef were on paternity leave at the time.
Reopening and next steps
Holdi closed for just over a week, during which wiring was tidied, areas were cleaned, staff received health and safety training, and hand wash was replenished. The restaurant reopened on September 20 and requested a revisit, which took place on September 24. The inspector was satisfied with the improvements and allowed trading to resume.
Hossain said the restaurant has always been five-star rated previously and that the issues caused a "lapse in concentration." He confirmed a rescoring revisit has been requested, and approval has been granted for electrical work outside, scheduled to be completed by the end of October, which would end reliance on the temporary generator.
