Popular country pub The Battleaxes given a zero food hygiene rating

The new owners are working to make improvements

An historic North Somerset pub, built as part of a sprawling Gothic estate, has been given a zero food hygiene rating.

North Somerset Council environmental health officers inspected the Battleaxes in Wraxall last month, telling operators 'major improvements' were needed.

Pub operators – the Country Pub Group – have been told ‘major improvement’ is needed to its food handling procedures and the management of food safety

It has also been told to improve the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and the building.

The owners, who purchased the pub in August, are now working with North Somerset Council to bring forward the necessary improvements.

Environmental health officers (EHO) are expected to revisit the pub this week.

Matthew Lowe of the Country Pub Group said the poor rating was as a result of some structural issues which had been remedied.

He added issues with paperwork had arisen as a result of food safety system used by the former operators being phased out and replaced with new procedures used by the Country Pub Group.

'We believe the kitchen is of a good level'

Mr Lowe said: “Following instruction from EHO we are working closely to improve our rating.

“A lot of structural issues were identified such as needing to replace some flooring and painting of walls which we have now completed.

“We are always working with EHO to improve our record keeping and paperwork.

“We believe the kitchen is of a good level and if EHO thought it was unsafe they would have shut it down.

“We would also like to welcome any customers into the kitchen at any time to see for themselves.”

The Country Pub Group, owned by hospitality entrepreneur Mr Lowe, purchased The Battleaxes from the Flatcappers chain in August.

The group has three other pubs – two of which have a five-star food hygiene ratings and one of which has a four-star rating.

The purchase of the Battleaxes by the group has created nine new jobs and seen a major supply chain move from national to local suppliers, pumping additional cash into the local economy.

Mr Lowe said the EHO visit will not affect any bookings. A revamp of the menu is also planned in January.

As well as a bar and large restaurant and function room, the Battleaxes also boasts boutique hotel rooms and a small basement bar called The Shindig.

The history of the pub

The Battleaxes – which is a popular venue for wedding parties and Sunday lunches - was built as a Temperance house by the benevolent Matilda Blanche Gibbs, widow of wealthy merchant William Gibbs, in 1881.

She wanted the Victorian building as somewhere for estate workers to meet without drinking alcohol.

But at the outbreak of World War I the Temperance House was leased to Georges Brewery, later Courage Brewery.

When Courage’s gave back the lease to the late Lord Wraxall (Richard Gibbs) in the 1960s he promptly sold the building.

Changes in ownership and name followed with reports of a fire in the 1970s. Success varied but a brief spell as an Indian restaurant didn’t suit the locals.

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