Crediton pub achieves 5* food hygiene rating

A CREDITON pub has bounced back with a 5* food rating after revamping its kitchen and hiring a new chef.

The pub – now The Three Tuns, previously known as the Kirton Cow, suffered a blow earlier this year when it received a 1* food hygiene rating from Mid Devon District Council.

Owner Prajeev Prakash said major improvements had been made in its kitchen, and that it had worked to remove old appliances that had been there from the pub’s time as a Wetherspoons.

The venue has undergone a rebrand, switching its name to The Three Tuns, and made changes elsewhere.

“Having the right chef in place was exactly what we needed to improve our kitchen and food standards,” Mr Prakash said.

“We have worked hard to improve our kitchen, and I believe this achievement deserves to be shared with the public.”

He said the focus had been to replace equipment and keep only what it needed to serve its menu.

“We also look after the kitchen throughout the day and make sure everything is properly maintained,” he said.

“Even during the last inspection, the documentation and records for the kitchen weren’t properly in place. We’ve made sure that everything is now organised and that all the necessary records are kept up-to-date.

“Our chef, Stuart Robinson, also has more than 40 years of experience in the kitchen.

“There is still a lot we need to do as part of the management process, and everything comes at a cost. However, I’m doing my best to improve things step by step, as far as possible.”

On a recent Facebook post, the pub shared its new 5* food hygiene rating with followers.

It acknowledged there had been a “lot of discussion and misinformation” about its previous 1* rating, but that with “experienced people who understand the kitchen, proper attention to food hygiene, and a commitment to doing things the right way”, clear improvements had been made.

“Our new rating reflects the progress we have made, and we are proud of the steps we have taken,” the post stated.

“We believe that good food starts with a good kitchen team, proper standards, and a passion for what we do.

“Our aim is to serve you delicious food and give Crediton something to be proud of.”

The post acknowledged the pub remained in a “soft-launch phase” and would be developing its offering soon.

The issues that led to the 1* rating were partly caused by problems with the pub’s waste contractor, with its bins taken away, and a gap of weeks before an agreement was struck with a new waste firm that provided new bins and more frequent collections.

An anonymous resident said in July, that waste had built up in a storage area around the back of the pub, near an entrance used by disabled customers and parents with pushchairs.

Given the heatwave-level temperatures during some of that time, the resident said their photo showed where the maggots appeared.

Mr Prakash said at the time that an extensive clean of the pub had been conducted and any signs of maggots had been removed.

Mid Devon District Council has now issued a food hygiene certificate with a rating of 5 or ‘very good’.