IT may have impressed professional culinary inspectors but the Mason Arms is yet to convince hygiene officers of its high standards.

The South Leigh pub has been given two rosettes for 'culinary excellence' by AA inspectors but still only has a one-star food hygiene rating it picked up shortly after opening.

Since Mr Hanbury's Mason Arms opened in July it has also been included in the prestigious Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide.

When it comes to food quality it has been rated more highly than renowned Oxfordshire restaurants, Gee's, Malmaison, the Old Swan and Minster Mill and the Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor.

But its official food hygiene score remains low pending a revisit from West Oxfordshire District Council environmental health officers.

The Mason Arms declined to respond when asked about the food hygiene rating but it is understood a new inspection could take place soon.

AA inspectors who awarded the accommodation five stars and restaurant two rosettes do inspect hygiene as part of their visit and saw fit to award it the high rating. 

But council inspectors found the restaurant had 'poor' food hygiene and safety and they had 'little' confidence in management when they visited in August.

The Mason Arms had been empty since March 2014 before husband and wife team Justin and Charlotte Salisbury opened up Artist Residence Oxfordshire in the 16th century pub along with a new restaurant.

Villagers had previously saved the pub, which also has five bedrooms for guests, after plans were tabled to turn it into a cottage.

Councillors refused the application on the grounds the pub would be lost forever.

The hotel aspect of the establishment was given five stars by AA earlier this week and the restaurant also rewarded with two rosettes.

Proprietor Charlotte Salisbury praised head chef Leon Smith who she said focussed on 'rummaging through nature's larder' in the pub's garden to produce quality food.

She said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have been acknowledged by The AA for the quality of our newest hotel in Oxfordshire, and for Leon’s outstanding cooking for Mr Hanbury’s Mason Arms.

"A lot of hard work has been poured into the project over the past year and we are all really proud."

The pub hit the headlines in 2009 after then-owner Gerry Stonhill became the first pub landlord in Oxfordshire to be fined for flouting the smoking ban.

On leaving court he told the Oxford Mail that former Prime Minister Tony Blair could “stick his anti-smoking law up his a***”.

He finally caved in, after being fined £5,750, and provided an outdoor smoking area.