Pub 'over the moon' as food hygiene rating goes from two to five

A Fareham pub that was awarded a two-out-of-five food hygiene rating has now received the top score.

The Wicor Mill, in White Hart Lane, has been given the new rating following a second inspection by Fareham Borough Council on September 21.

The Food Standards Agency’s website shows that hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and the building, and management of food safety are now ‘good’.

This is an improvement from an initial inspection in March which resulted in a judgement of ‘improvement is necessary’ for cleanliness and conditions of facilities and the building.

Pub landlord, Simon Maxwell, 39, who took over the day to day running of The Wicor Mill 12 weeks ago, told the Echo: “I’m absolutely over the moon.

“I’ve run pubs before in different areas but then I was out of the industry for five years as I was working in accounting.

“I always wanted to get back involved but was waiting for the right pub at the right time.

“The Wicor Mill is a community pub with good food and new customers who want to come and eat with us.”

READ MORE: Latest food hygiene ratings for Southampton eateries

Owned by Star Pubs & Bars (Heineken UK), Simon was eager to turn the pub’s fortunes around with a new menu and the best possible food hygiene score.

He said: “I hired a new chef – Jacob – who along with the rest of the team has put a lot of hard work in to better the quality of the establishment.

“The state of the building was in a particular struggle – it took us all of that 12 weeks to sort it out.

“Fortunately, everything has been rectified and I was keen to invite the inspector back for a second assessment.”

He added: “She spent the best part of two hours here and everything went really well.

“She looked in our yard, waste disposal, fridges – and asked the staff questions.

“We’ve just worked so hard for this five-star food hygiene rating so to have accomplished that is just the best feeling.

“We had professional cleaners come in and re-do the carpets, so it’s a really fresh look and a new beginning for us as a pub.”