An Oxfordshire pub was handed a low food hygiene rating for the way it handled raw food.

Olivier at The Chequers, in Aston Tirrold, three miles southeast of Didcot, received a two-out-of-five food hygiene rating after an inspection on April 24.

However, the country pub has since been upgraded to a four-out-of-five rating following a reinspection from the council’s environment health team on June 24.

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It was given the initial low rating due to its hygienic food handling which included how it prepared and stored raw food.

The inspection report revealed that one workbench was used for both raw food preparation and ready-to-eat ingredients.

“The area was not cleaned and disinfected before starting to use this area for service of ready-to-eat foods,” the report said.

It added that there was raw food stored next to ready-to-eat food in the pub’s fridge.

The report added: “Ensure you store raw foods away from ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination.

“Ideally use separate fridges, if this is not possible ensure raw foods are below ready-to-eat foods.”

Inspectors also noted that the outside of storage containers were “dirty and covered in food debris”.

The most recent food hygiene report states that hygienic food handling is now "generally satisfactory."

The management of food safety and the cleanliness and condition of facilities and buildings is described as "good" in the new report.

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