AN OXFORD cafe which claims to be the oldest coffee house in Europe has bounced back after been slammed by hygiene inspectors.

Queen's Lane Coffee House in High Street were given a one-star rating and criticised for storing gluten free food next to gluten filled products.

The storing of food was also an issue when it came to keeping raw meat next to ready to eat food.

Inspectors said gaps in windows could allow mice and insects into the cafe and ordered management to buy finer mesh or an insect screen.

But now, following a re-inspection earlier this week it has hit back with a five-star rating.

Manager Aylin Muldur said: "We are very pleased.

"It was silly things really, for example the hot water wasn't working in part of the cafe - we sorted that and some of the seals on fridges."

The previous report, which can now be revealed by the Oxford Mail, had made a range of criticisms and Oxford City Council environmental health officers ordered improvements to be made within a month of the inspection at the end of August.

But the rating has remained in place until Wednesday.

The business was rated 'poor' when it came to food hygiene and safety and 'fair' in the structural compliance category.

Inspectors also had 'little' confidence in management to turn things around.

They said: "There were no date labels on products in the fridges or freezers - due to the number of staff, good stock rotation and labelling is very important.

"As discussed use day dots or write on the lids of the portioned food."

"Provide a finer mesh/insect screen to the pot wash and toilet windows - the current gaps could potentially allow mice and insects.

"In the interim, ensure the windows are closed at night."

Staff were also told to replace probe thermometer wipes and clean 'dirty' hand contacts and seals - particularly the underside of soap and towel dispensers.

The cafe first opened its doors in 1654 following the English Civil War - which saw the Royalist controlled Oxford under siege for a number of years.

It claims to be the oldest continually working coffee house in the whole of Europe.

Coffee was seen as an exotic drink at the time but the Queen's Lane Coffee House - then known as Harper's was popular was students and scholars by the eighteenth century.

Nowadays it still serves coffee as well as snacks and meals.