A Michelin star restaurant once hailed the best pub in the UK has been handed a two-star food hygiene rating.
The Sportsman in Seasalter, in Kent, was given the poor grade after health inspectors spotted several issues in the kitchen.
Among the concerns were ‘dirt and mould on the ceiling in the walk-in refrigerator’ and pickled cucumber being stored in a ‘heavily stained jug’, KentOnline reports.
The popular gastropub has been awarded a number of accolades in recent years – since it was taken over by brothers Stephen and Phil Harris in 1999.
In 2015, The Sportsman – described by its owners themselves as a ‘grotty rundown boozer by the sea’ – was crowned the best pub in the UK.
Seven years earlier, in 2008, the pub received its Michelin star, priding itself on a menu of locally-sourced ingredients.
But an environmental health inspector from Canterbury City Council (CCC) scolded managers after he visited the restaurant in February.
As well as the findings in the walk-in refrigerator, mould was also discovered ‘inside a door within an under-counter refrigerator’.
Owner Stephen Harris of gastropub The Sportsman (pictured), in Whitstable, Kent, said the venue was completely full until September
The inspector added: ‘I noted a member of staff eating in the kitchen, cloths over two chefs’ shoulders and one wearing several leather bracelets.
‘You must review your personal hygiene policy. Ready to eat, pickled cucumber was stored in a heavily stained jug.’
Structural issues with the building, which is almost 400 years old in some places, were also identified during the February 13 inspection.
These included lino flooring worn or missing in some places, damage to skirting boards and a wall near the bar and the rusting of rubber coating and shelving in the fridges.
The report added: ‘The lighting to the lobby, dry food storage area between the kitchen and bar is insufficient to effectively see to prepare food, clean, disinfect and check for signs of pests.
‘The kitchen step does not have a surface that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.
‘I found a gap to the left side of the cellar door, which could potentially allow pests to enter the premises.’
Among the areas highlighted in particular were those under and on the sides of fridges, the office door and table legs – which were said to need more thorough cleaning.
The Sportsman’s pot roast red cabbage, apple and fresh cheese – on the menu at the time it won best pub in the UK
Hake fillet with bouillabaisse and green olive tapenade offered on The Sportsman’s menu at the time it won best pub in the UK
But despite the identification of two dirty chopping boards, the report said the pub has a ‘satisfactory food safety management system’.
‘However, staff were not carrying out all the identified controls at critical points,’ the inspector added.
It was noted in particular that necessary precautions were not being taken to protect food from contamination – the daily diary was not completed each day of February, and an allergen review was lacking.
Site owner Shepherd Neame has said staff ‘took immediate action’ to deal with the problems and have applied for a rescore, with the new inspection set to take place in coming weeks.
The council said the authority had been watching the venue ‘closely’ following the poor review.
A spokesman added: ‘The business took the points our officer made very seriously and we are pleased to say good progress has been made in addressing the concerns.
‘The Sportsman has applied for a reinspection, and we expect it to improve its score significantly when we visit in the next few weeks.’
Fish and seafood from the pub is traditionally sourced from the Thames estuary whilst meat and poultry come from nearby farms.
The Harris brothers also grow some of their ingredients themselves in the small kitchen garden and polytunnel.
Notable celebrities to have dined at the venue include Gary Lineker, Paul Hollywood and Amanda Holden.
Its five course tasting menu comes in at £85 per person while the three course midweek menu is £55 each.
Among the pubs offerings are pickled herrings with white cabbage salad and poached rock oysters – complete with pickled cucumber and avruga caviar.
No dogs are allowed at the venue.
Shepherd Neame’s director of tenanted pub operations, Greg Wallis, said in a statement the Faversham brewery ‘works closely with our pub partners to offer support in all areas of their business’.
He added: ‘Following their recent inspection, the team at The Sportsman took immediate action to address all issues identified and have applied for a rescore, which we are confident will see the pub returned to a higher rating in the very near future.’
Despite not seeing any pests at the site, bosses were advised by the inspector to employ a professional to carry out pest preventions as staff had been laying down traps and poison themselves.
