The owner of a top York hotel has spoken of her shock after receiving a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5.
And she says systems are now in place to ensure the kitchens have returned to the highest standards.
Grays Court Hotel has always maintained a 5 out of 5 food hygiene rating since it opened 15 years ago. But this was dropped to 1 out of 5 after an inspection on 27 October, the details of which were recently published.
These were the inspector’s key findings:
- Hygienic food handling – improvement necessary
- Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building – generally satisfactory
- Management of food safety – major improvement necessary.
Historic Grays Court, found on Chapter House Street just yards from the Minster, has won multiple awards in recent years thanks to its commitment to the highest standards of service and accommodation.
Its Bow Room Restaurant is in the Michelin Guide and has rave reviews on TripAdvisor, where it has a 5/5 rating.
But a “significant lapse at the time of the inspection” led to the hygiene rating downgrade.
Proprietor Helen Heraty said the inspector marked them down on a number of issues, including a food labelling error and a chipped storage lid that should have been discarded and replaced.
She is confident that changes that have been made have brought the kitchens back to a 5 out of 5 food hygiene rating, and is waiting another inspection to confirm this.
Helen said: “I was horrified and shocked by the result of our last inspection, that this could have happened is nothing short of shameful.
“I feel personally responsible, that I was not as vigilant as I should have been.
“There was clearly a significant lapse at the time of the inspection, the first since we opened over 15 years ago, and I am determined that an incident like this will not happen again.
“We carried out a review and a comprehensive investigation to understand how this could have happened.
“Affirmative actions have been taken where necessary. Systems are now firmly in place to ensure that all areas pertaining to the kitchen meet and maintain the highest standards.”
She added: “I do hope that people who know and love Grays Court are assured that their experience and enjoyment will not be compromised.
“Our guest reviews and feedback are testament to our strengths as one of York’s leading hotels. We have requested a re-inspection from the environmental health officer at their earliest convenience.”