A Coventry hotel was found to have ‘extensive’ food hygiene and safety failings, including mouldy storage areas and ‘dirty’ taps. Royal Court Hotel on Tamworth Road was inspected earlier this year and received a one-star hygiene rating.
Inspectors visited the Royal Court Hotel on Tamworth Road in May and found that food safety records were not being completed on some days. Staff were found not to be adequately trained in food hygiene.
Concerns were raised over a chopping board positioned next to a tray of eggshells and unbroken eggs. Staff said the board had been used to prepare cooked ham and other ready-to-eat items, increasing the risk of cross-contamination during food handling.
Cleanliness issues were found across food handling and storage areas. Dirt had built up over time across the premises, with ‘filthy’ taps, door handles, chopping boards, shelving, walls and floors among the issues identified.
Cobwebs were found above the door to a walk-in chiller and on the ceiling above open pizza storage boxes, according to Coventry City Council. Inspectors also discovered a pool of dirty water and food debris around the ovens, along with mould growing on ‘dirty’ trolleys.
Dirty areas included behind the drinks urns and directly above serving plates and utensils, with the kitchen ceiling extractor grille said to have been ‘caked in dirt.’ Further issues included grease and food debris near cooking appliances.
Inspectors identified ‘ingrained dirt’ along wall and floor junctions, with broken plates, glass and other utensils found under shelving. Coventry City Council said an unlabelled spray bottle was also discovered, with staff unable to identify its contents.
Coventry City Council revisited the Royal Court Hotel in July this year and found a ‘marked improvement’ in hygiene conditions. Most of the structural issues had been rectified, food safety documents were being completed, and cross-contamination control measures had been implemented.
Britannia Hotels, which manages the Royal Court Hotel, said: “We take our food hygiene standards extremely seriously and are very disappointed by the rating recently awarded to the Royal Court Hotel. Following the inspection, we immediately completed a comprehensive review of our food safety procedures and standards.
“A programme of significant improvements is now being implemented, including enhanced operational controls, additional staff training, and strengthened management oversight.
“We are committed to providing a wholly safe environment for our guests and colleagues and will work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure all required improvements are fully embedded. We are confident that the measures we have introduced will deliver the high standards we expect across our hotels, and we look forward to demonstrating this at a future reinspection.”
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