(Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)
Dirty aprons, a mouldy ceiling, and raw bacon stored above cooked food were among the hygiene failings at a one-star-rated County Durham pub.
The Beamish Mary Inn, near Stanley, was told major improvement was necessary after a damning food hygiene inspection on July 7.
Temperatures being too high in the fridge, allergen chopping boards directly contacting other boards, and dirty tea towels on top of work surfaces were among the issues at the site.
A newly released report from Durham County Council has revealed the pub left high-risk food to cool for a few hours at room temperature and incorrectly stored foods.
The Beamish Mary Inn (Image: GOOGLE)
Inspectors found frozen raw meat being stored above vegan sausages and vegetarian burgers and an open pack of raw bacon being stored above cooked foods in an upright fridge.
Gluten-free bread was also being stored on the same shelf as pizzas, which contain wheat, in the upright freezer. Some foods were covered however, the report said.
Images from a food hygiene inspection at The Beamish Mary Inn near Stanley (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)
In the kitchen, food safety officers found a dirty microwave, greasy extractor filters, split seals in the freezer and fridge and deteriorated chopping boards.
Images from a food hygiene inspection at The Beamish Mary Inn near Stanley (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)
The standard of low-level cleaning in the kitchen, wash-up area, and storage areas below and behind heavy equipment was found to require improvement.
Some cooking equipment was dirty, including operating dials, while other contact points included door handles of the fridge, freezers, and microwaves were found to be unclean.
Images from a food hygiene inspection at The Beamish Mary Inn near Stanley (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)
The kitchen ceiling, entrance door, and back door were also dirty.
Other issues in the kitchen included gaps at the bottom of the door leading to the bar and at the back door, “allowing potential access for pests”.
Images from a food hygiene inspection at The Beamish Mary Inn near Stanley (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)
The kitchen’s floor coverage was damaged and there was mould to the seal at the back of the equipment sink in the kitchen. Tiles around the sink were cracked, and grout was dirty.
Meanwhile, in the cellar toilets, the paint was flaking and the ceiling was mouldy, with the external door being “not adequately pest proof”.
Images from a food hygiene inspection at The Beamish Mary Inn near Stanley (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)
One of the toilet doors was damaged and paint inside was flaking, while there was no handrail on the staircase leading to the beer cellar.
Images from a food hygiene inspection at The Beamish Mary Inn near Stanley (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)
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Freezers in the kitchen and cellar were both noted as badly iced up, with the electric insect killer in the kitchen being found full of dead critters.
The venue was rated improvement necessary for both its hygienic food handling and cleanliness and ‘major improvement necessary’ for management of food safety.
The Northern Echo has attempted to contact The Beamish Mary Inn for comment but it has not responded in time for publication.