A PUB in Rhyl has been awarded a food hygiene rating of one, with “major improvement” necessary at the site.

The Swan Inn, at 13 Russell Road, received one-out-of-five score after an inspection on February 13.

The pub only reopened in early December under new landlord and landlady Daniel Smith and Claire Ormrod, having been closed since October the previous year.

A Freedom of Information request made to Denbighshire County Council revealed that the business had failed to adhere to food hygiene regulations in seven instances.

Particular attention was drawn to its food storage, kitchen cleanliness and food safety management procedures.

The report said the pub’s kitchen was “not in a satisfactory condition to handle food”, and highlighted a “poor appreciation of hazards and control measures”.

It found that there were “no food safety management procedures” and “some reluctance in recognising or accepting the need for food safety and hygiene control procedures”, with the business not yet registered with the food standards agency.

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The report said that defrosted sausage rolls, which had “mould growth”, were found in stationary and paperwork spaces.

The business’ chilled unit had not been turned on, with the operators saying this had not been done since they took over the premises.

Items which had not been cleaned for an “extended period of time” were found near food preparation areas, and particular concern was levelled at the pub’s handling of frozen pies.

The pies were incorrectly stored at room temperature, and were being reheated (incorrectly) and served on the day of the inspection – they were removed and discarded at the time of the inspection.

“Major non-compliance” was found with regard to structural/cleaning regulations, with an area of the kitchen “poorly ventilated” and without water.

The main sink was filled with an assortment of cloths, a “used dirty mop head” and a container with a chemical inside.

The Swan Inn was approached for comment.