Burythorpe House Hotel, a boutique establishment owned by guitarist Eric Clapton, has been given the lowest possible one-star food hygiene rating. The rating was assigned following an inspection by food hygiene officials on July 7, indicating that "major improvement" is necessary.
The inspection of the four-star hotel, located near Malton in North Yorkshire, found that while cleanliness and the condition of the premises were "generally satisfactory," significant improvements were needed in food safety management. Food handling practices were also noted as requiring improvement.
Alison Gaskell, the hotel's general manager, stated that most of the required changes have been implemented. She explained that initial disappointment stemmed from the advisory notice regarding work, particularly on flooring and storage cupboards. "Unfortunately, we could not get the required tradesmen that we needed for such a large area, times passed and I admittedly let too much time slip," Gaskell said.
Gaskell added that the necessary work has been completed and the hotel is anticipating a reinspection next week, with hopes of restoring its previous four-star rating or achieving the maximum five stars. She expressed gratitude for the supportive input and guidance from the Environmental Health Office (EHO).
Clapton purchased the 18th-century building in 2013. The hotel offers bed and breakfast accommodation and can host events, including weddings for up to 150 guests. Despite the recent food hygiene rating, Burythorpe House Hotel maintains a 4.5-star rating on Tripadvisor from over 750 reviews and a 4.7-star rating on Google.
Eric Clapton has been approached for comment.