A VILLAGE pub which hosts wedding receptions has been given a score of nought for its hygiene.

The Fox Inn, in Newfound, was visited by food safety officers from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on February 1 who said ‘urgent improvement’ is needed for hygiene standards.

It was given an overall rating of nought out of five, which is the lowest possible score.

Read more: Award-winning Basingstoke restaurant give one for hygiene rating

Inspectors said ‘urgent improvement’ was needed to the management of food safety which includes having systems or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat and evidence that staff know about food safety.

It was told that ‘major improvement’ is needed to the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building and ‘improvement’ is needed to hygienic food handling which includes preparation, cooking, re-heating and storage.

The pub, run by Mark and Sarah Burton-Pye, is part of the Fuller’s chain.

It is described on its website as having an ‘intimate private dining room’ and ‘vast function room’ making it ‘one of the best party and corporate venues in Basingstoke’.

See also: Basingstoke bakehouse and cafe given one-star hygiene rating

The website adds: “Surrounded by glorious countryside, The Fox Inn makes a stunning setting for a wedding reception. Celebrate your special evening in our newly refurbished function room – complete with DJ, disco lights and full catering service.”

Mark Burton-Pye told the Gazette that an inspector visited the pub while the kitchen was closed because major works were being carried out.

He said: “[This] meant the score we got given reflected the works. Although we were carrying out regular temperature checks, we were not recording these or our cleaning regime, again reflected in the score.”

He said a date for a re-visit was agreed for February 14.

“We voluntarily remained closed for this time. After the inspection the EHO [environmental health officer] was more than happy for us to re-open,” he added.

He believes a standard of five would have been given following this visit but said the pub must keep the rating for three months.

However, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s regulatory services manager Rob Draper said there was "no evidence" of any refurbishment works being carried out at the pub during the inspection. 

He added: “The rating that the premises was awarded reflected the level of compliance with food safety requirements at the time of the inspection.  There was no evidence of any refurbishment works being undertaken and the kitchen had been serving food three days before the inspection took place.”

He continued: “Following a period of voluntary closure by the food business we are satisfied that the operation of the kitchen now meets the legal standards for the safe storage and preparation of food. The risk rating will be revised following a further re-inspection in three months’ time, in line with the national guidance.”

Mr Burton-Pye invited anyone concerned about the rating to “come in any time and inspect our kitchen back of house area”.

He declined to share the details of The Fox Inn’s hygiene report saying “it doesn’t reflect a true standard of our kitchen/back of house area when we are actually operating”.

Mr Draper said: “Decisions about enforcement are often about patterns of non-compliance and not just single incidents. Individual reports therefore remain exempt from disclosure under Section 31(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in case they are required for future enforcement action."