An Oxfordshire village pub has been slapped with a zero-out-of-five hygiene rating after a rodent infestation forced the kitchen to close and the senior chef to resign. 

The Highwayman Hotel in Banbury Road in Kidlington dates back to 1700 and is close to the Oxford Canal and within a five-minute walk of London Oxford Airport, formerly known as Kidlington Airport. 

Described by its official website as an “historic and delightful former coaching inn”, the spot offers bed and breakfast accommodation alongside the pub and restaurant.

The family-run business has positive scores on customer feedback website Tripadvisor but was lambasted by Cherwell District Council’s Environmental Health team during a visit on Tuesday, July 23.

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There was a rodent infestation (stock image).There was a rodent infestation (stock image). (Image: Unsplash)

Inspectors found the conditions to require 'urgent improvement' and hit the pub with a shocking zero-out-of-five hygiene rating.

Father-and-son duo Nick and Mark Duvall run the business and say the score was down to a rodent infestation which caused the kitchen to close.

“The Environmental Hygiene Officer visited us on July 23, 2024, at noon,” they said in a joint statement. 

“The inspection took place jointly with our senior chef and indicated a minor rodent infestation with hygienic food handling improvements necessary.

“The kitchen was closed with immediate effect.

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The Highwayman Hotel dates back to 1700.The Highwayman Hotel dates back to 1700. (Image: Google Maps)

“Directors ordered a thorough deep clean of the kitchen and storage areas and an inspection by our pest control contractor.”

Inspectors came back just three days later and offered Nick and Mark a reinspection while the kitchen has continued to close two-days-per-week.

“The EHO returned upon request at lunchtime on the 26th indicating the kitchen could reopen directly,” they added.

“We were offered a complete re-inspection at a cost of £341in order to gain an updated star rating.

“The senior chef has since resigned, and we are advertising this position and our kitchen has been closed on occasions while we are seeking a replacement.

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“The kitchen is fully open the chef completed a month's notice and left at the end of August and since then we have closed roughly two days a week.”

Inspectors stated that 'major improvement' was necessary with the pub’s management of food safety.

This regards having a system or checks in place to ensure that the food sold or served is safe to eat,.

It also covers whether there is evidence that staff know about food safety and if the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future

The cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building were also noted as requiring 'major improvement' as a necessity.

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The pub is located in Kidlington.The pub is located in Kidlington. (Image: Google Maps)

This includes having an appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control to enable good food hygiene.

The Highwayman Hotel is just one of six businesses across Oxfordshire which currently have a zero-out-of-five hygiene rating.

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