A popular Rottingdean pub’s kitchen was temporarily closed after an inspection found an insect infestation and other health risks.
The Plough Inn in Vicarage Road was given a one star food hygiene rating by Brighton and Hove City Council in September.
The full inspection report, released this week after Brighton and Hove News submitted a freedom of information request, shows why.
Inspectors found the kitchen had a fruit fly infestation, as well as raw and cooked food stored together and a “generally dirty” kitchen.
The inspection report, dated 13 September, described how the kitchen needed to be closed immediately to deal with a pest infestation and to deep clean the entire kitchen area.
The report said: “There is a fruit fly infestation in your kitchen. In the first instance all opened food packets/bags should be disposed of as they were heavily contaminated.
“You must clean your kitchen. Replace the bulb in the electric fly killer and hang in a suitable area.
“Generally your kitchen structure and equipment are in a dirty condition.
“You must clean the whole of the premises and external/internal surfaces of equipment.”
The report also mentioned that evidence of staff training on food hygiene and allergen awareness was missing, and instructed the pub to train its staff in these procedures within three weeks of the inspection.
The pub – part of the Golden Lion group which also includes Libation in Hove and The Cricketers in Brighton – dates back to the 1840s, and with some of the original flint walls still intact.
A spokesperson for Golden Lion Group said: “We apologise, the company we use to manage our kitchen at the Plough Inn failed to maintain our usual high standards.
“The individuals involved have been replaced. Recruitment in catering has been very challenging in recent times and unfortunately we weren’t quick enough to identify a couple of poor performers.
“We reacted immediately and worked alongside the food safety team. We’ve also improved our internal management controls.
“We are expecting a revisit imminently and are confident of a significantly improved rating.”
A group , failing to manage a company, failing to manage a pub. Remember the times when it only took a husband and wife to do what companies can’t ?
Well put Les 👍🏽
I’ve eaten in here 🤮
OMG I’ve eaten there and in other venues nearby including various cafes. Never going back.
I have to say I was gobsmacked to see this was the Golden Lion group!! I used to work for them and I know how high there standards are or at least used to be but I have every faith that they as a company will right it and bring those expected high standards of the Golden Lion group back to this pub.
Rottingdean. Hardly Brighton!
Rottingdean is part of Brighton
Saw fruit flies on Asda croissants at Feltham, They removed said flies and put items back for sale.
Having had some fruit flies at home a couple of years ago I know they can be very difficult to get rid of. Yellow fly papers seemed the most effective against them – lots of the smaller flies and aphids seem to like yellow things as I found when I once had a yellow car. Modern sprays available for home use didn’t seem to bother them.
Yuk !! We often eat there !! No more thanks !!
It frustrates me that hospitality establishments often blame their staff (no loyalty whatsoever) instead of actually taking responsibility. The owners/management are responsible for properly training their staff so it’s ultimately their fault.
Hope Dave’s ok
And the beer is too expensive!!!!
To be fair it only takes 1 rubbish manager to scupper a business. Hopefully they get this turned around fast as it’s normally decent in there. Sounds like they have sacked the incompetents
Takes a few minutes of time each day to clean as you go, Any decent chef should know that, and so should the manager of the pub unless they’ve not been trained properly by the people who employ them, that is if they actually know what the standard should be set at themselves!! All about turnover now and value for money has gone out the window!!!