A POPULAR Flintshire-based eatery has responded to an unusually low food hygiene rating confirmed by a recent inspection.

On July 31, 'The Gathering' situated at The Cross in Mold was visited by the Food Standards Agency.

Following an inspection, the business was rated two-stars out of a possible five for its cleanliness and hygiene.

Have you tried their breakfast menu?Have you tried their breakfast menu? (Image: The Gathering)

Determined to reassure customers, owner Rick Lee said: "During the inspection, they discovered that an important line was missing from our food safety manual. This line would prompt the kitchen staff to check stock at the end of the shift to remove out of date stock. We pay an external company to produce the manual, and this has now been corrected, and they have apologized for their mistake. This led to us losing 1 star.

READ: Taste Test - the Gathering in Mold proves to be a great spot for lunch

"Unfortunately, due to missing text, the staff missed a busket of our coleslaw that was out of date. The coleslaw was dated and would never have gone into service. This mistake led to us losing 1.5 stars. The other 0.5 star loss was due to the fridge seals not being clean.

"I do believe this was not a build-up of dirt but simply from a day's prep. All issues were resolved on the day, and the new manual was printed and used immediately."

All hygiene practises have been gone through with all kitchen staff since the inspection, leaving Rick confident that the business has returned to its usual five-star rating.

He also admits that his recent double knee replacement has certainly put more pressure on the team.

MOST READ

"My team has really stepped up to support me over the past 6 months, and these 2 stars do not reflect their great work", Rick continues.

"The business has gone from strength to strength over the past year with excellent customer feedback. We have also been awarded Mold Business of the Year 2024 and Best Breakfast in Flintshire.

"We hope customers can see that this is a temporary blip, and we have complied with everything we need to."