Owner of The Jackson Stops Inn in Stretton, Rutland disappointed by 2-star rating from Food Standards Agency
The owner of a family run pub has been left devastated by a 2-star food hygiene rating.
The Jackson Stops inn in Stretton has been told ‘improvement is necessary’ by food hygiene inspectors in its latest rating.
This is a significant drop from its previous 'very good' 5-star rating.
Inspectors who visited the village pub at the end of March said improvements needed to be made with hygienic food handling.
Management of food safety and cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building were both found to be generally satisfactory.
In his 35 years of being a chef, Robert Knowles, owner of The Jackson Stops inn has never received below a five-star rating.
He said: “There were things that weren’t right on the day but I believe as a family pub with a lot of experience there wasn’t a threat to the safety of our food.
“We have a lot of regular customers who are like our family.”
He added: “It is deeply upsetting in this current climate and could be fatal for us.”
The inspection took place on Wednesday, March 29 in the middle of a busy service.
As part of a food hygiene inspections, employees are asked questions regarding safety and the establishment’s practices.
But in the middle of a lunchtime rush Robert felt that while under pressure he didn’t have the time to answer properly.
The inspection also put service behind with some customers facing a long wait.
Among the questions asked was about the temperature of beef served on a Sunday lunch, which he got mixed up on the day.
At the time of the inspection Robert wasn’t aware of new rules under the Food Standards Agency’s ‘safe food, better business’ guidelines.
He said: “I wasn’t aware of these changes but I don’t believe they threaten the safety of our food.
“It is entirely my fault.
“Staff have now all done a refresher food safety qualification.”
One of the details in the new legislation surrounds overcooking chips or bread, which Robert says some people request, due to acrylamide risks.
Another of the errors picked up by the inspector was a dirty extraction fan, which lost them marks even though a deep clean had been scheduled for the coming weeks.
Robert said within hours most of the errors had been fixed with the rest of the problems rectified within a week.
He added: “We run this as a family business.
“We care and prioritise food safety.”
The Jackson Stops was listed in the AA Pick of the Pubs and Trip Advisor's Traveller's Choice Award this year. It was also Michelin recommended four years in a row and plaque awarded for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
The latest rating for the Jackson Stops follows a number of prominent businesses in the area receiving low scores.
“It is remarkably easy to end up in that situation,” explained Robert.
The Jackson Stops Inn will be reinspected in the coming weeks in a hope to regain the five-star rating.
