FOOD hygiene issues have been uncovered at an Isle of Wight pub, meaning major improvement is necessary in some areas.

Following an inspection by Isle of Wight Council environmental health officers, Bembridge's Old Village Inn has been given a one out of five food hygiene rating.

Owner, Jay Chapman, says he and his team are addressing the issues raised straight away, and are excited to welcome a new, award winning chef later this year.

Improvement was deemed necessary in two categories ­— hygienic food handling, and the cleanliness and condition of its facilities and building.

Inspectors said major improvement was also necessary in regards to the management of food safety.

The pub, on High Street, has a history of poor ratings in recent years.

Both in January, 2022, and March, 2020, the establishment had been handed a one out of five food hygiene rating.

In March, 2019, it had a three star rating, but in March, 2017, it was found to have one star rating, and zero star rating in September, 2016.

Reacting to the report, Jay Chapman said: "We have been in contact with EHO by email since our one-star review back in March, 2020, when our old kitchen collapsed.

"They didn't reply to us. We opened up an outside kitchen in July, 2020. Our old kitchen was too small, so we invested around £56,000 into a new one.

"We wrote to them, asking for a consultation about the new build, for some guidance on what to do.

"We did it six times, and got no reply. Then two weeks before the inspection, they told us they were going to do the whole thing in one hit — a consultation, an appeal, and a hygiene visit.

"They have never done that before, to the best of our knowledge.

"Had they done the consultation first, we could have probably addressed most of the issues before the inspection.

"The officer even said, apart from the structural issues, we are actually a very good place and moving in the right direction.

"Because of problems with accessing materials during the pandemic, it meant we couldn't fully complete the ceiling.

"It's all clean, but was left as an open ridge building, similar to a conservatory. What they were saying was that basically a spider could fall from the ceiling.

"We've already scheduled three independent closure dates, for our builders to come in and make various covering over the food preparation areas.

"They also highlighted we had around ten items out of date, but they were all non-essential items, about a day out.

"Then, right at the end of the report, it stated the fact that we hadn't registered our business under Bembridge Pubs Ltd, which I've since clarified.

"The bottom line is, if they'd come out and helped us to start with, we wouldn't be in this situation.

"But we have both agreed to move forward from this, and to get all the points rectified as soon as possible.

"We are looking forward to welcoming our new, award winning chef, who will be joining us in Easter."