A historic Oxfordshire pub which was recently awarded for its “culinary excellence” has been handed a poor food hygiene score.

The Old Crown Coaching Inn on Market Place in Faringdon dates back to the 16th century and serves a variety of ales and hot food.

In April 2023, the pub chefs were recognised for their “culinary excellence” and handed two prestigious AA rosettes which they picked up in June.

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However less than one year later Vale of White Horse District Council’s Environmental Health team found that ‘improvement [was] necessary’ as part of a food hygiene inspection. 

Oxford Mail: The chefs at the pub won an award last summer.The chefs at the pub won an award last summer. (Image: The Old Crown Coaching Inn)

Their visit to the pub on Thursday, February 15 resulted in the pub being handed a two-out-of-five hygiene rating.

The report stated the watering hole’s hygienic handling of food required ‘improvement’ and that alterations were ‘necessary’.

This includes the preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage of food served on the site.

The Old Crown Coaching Inn performed better with its management of food safety which was ranked as ‘generally satisfactory’.

Oxford Mail: Improvement was deemed necessary at the pub (file photo).Improvement was deemed necessary at the pub (file photo). (Image: Pexels)

This refers to having a system in place to ensure food is safe to eat and if there is evidence that staff know about food safety.

It also covers whether the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in the future.

The pub was given a rating of ‘good’ for the cleanliness and condition of the building and its facilities during the inspection.

This includes having an appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control to enable good food hygiene.