THE patron of a popular Ribble Valley restaurant has described his kitchen as ‘immaculate’ after hygiene inspectors upped his rating from the second lowest possible score.

The Freemasons, at Wiswell, had a five-star rating for hygiene until Food Standards Agency inspectors paid a visit and re-graded it to just one.

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They said issues, including the outside store, contributed to the eatery falling below the expected standards. A rating of one means the Food Standards Agency believes ‘major improvement is necessary’.

Following the one-star report in December, inspectors visited again in May and revised the rating up to four, the second highest.

Chef patron Steven Smith, who has run the business for the past five years, said: “There is absolutely nothing wrong with the hygiene here.

“The kitchen is immaculate and it was just one outside store that the inspector took issue with. This kitchen is brand new and could not be cleaner.

“This is just silly and political but customers are more than welcome to come along and have a look for themselves.

“At the first visit they caught us on a mega busy day and things might not have been in the right place.

“Now I’m much happier and my mission is to get this place to a five as soon as possible.”

In the latest food hygiene report complied by Ribble Valley Borough Council, the inspector said: “Various foods, including chips and Jersey new potatoes, were being stored/cooled outside on the steps and back wall, in close proximity to the refuse store.

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