KETCHUP and mayonnaise left out of the fridge and unclean kitchen equipment has led to a Botley pub scoring a low food hygiene rating.

Seacourt Bridge scored a two-star rating at a recent inspection but new manager Tracy Dennell said it was "hard to take" and was confident the pub had improved since.

Staff had kept sauces out in the pub and were marked down for not refrigerating them.

The West Way pub was also given a long list of areas and items to clean, including the ceiling, walls, sandwich toaster, microwaves and bar area.

Ms Dennell, who recently entered a retail management agreement with owners Marston's, said the rating surprised her and her staff.

She said: "We had a three last time and the report we had this time seemed a lot better but we were given a worse score.

"I don't know if it's unfair as such but maybe there is tighter legislation in place now.

"The council said we did well in our food safety and the overall rating is quite hard actually because you see other pubs with two-stars ratings and you think they might be dangerous but our pub is not dangerous at all."

She added it was Marston's policy to have sauces available for customers on tables and the lack of a walk-in fridge had meant the condiments were out throughout the day but are not refrigerated.

The report written by Vale of White Horse District Council environmental health inspectors ordered the pub to make changes to comply within six weeks.

It read: "Ensure sauces including mayonnaise and tomato ketchup are kept refrigerated and are stored in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

"Ensure raw food equipment including chopping boards and knives are stored separately from cooked / ready to eat equipment."

The council are expected to re-visit the pub next week.

The inspectors also gave the pub one week to clean as many as 21 items including the kettle, the washing machine, the oven, the bar area and debris on the floor.

Ms Dennell said: "We have had some issues, we have not had a regular chef in two years and we have been trying to run a pub as well.

"Since the inspection I have hired a regular cleaner and when the council revisit I'm confident they will see we have improved as they asked and that we will eventually get a higher rating."

The pub scored 'Fair' in the Food Hygiene and Safety category, 'Poor' when it came to Structural Compliance and 'Some' with regards to Confidence in Management.