Published: October 5, 2012
Burnham-On-Sea pub's owner defends its food hygiene standards

The owner of a Burnham-On-Sea pub has this week said it has "the highest level of hygiene standards" despite photos circulating on the Internet appearing to show its unclean kitchens.

Greene King, owner of The Rosewood Hungry Horse pub in Burnham's Love Lane, issued a statement on Friday after 32 photos were posted on Facebook by a former member of staff.

Spokeswoman Laura Mitchell told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "We would like to reassure customers that we prepare our food to the highest level of hygiene standards."

"Our kitchens and processes are subject to regular monitoring by internal and external auditors and this pub holds a hygiene rating of five – the highest award possible – from the Environmental Health department."

She added: "This is a busy working kitchen and we appreciate that it can look a bit messy at the end of a busy working day but we are confident that at no time is hygiene ever compromised."

"If any of our customers have any concerns, if they speak to the manager on their next visit, he will be more than happy for them to see the kitchens for themselves."

The photos were taken by a former staff member who worked at the pub for eight weeks over the summer who claims he was shocked at the pub's poor hygiene standards. Sedgemoor District Council's environmental health team says it is investigating.