THE ex-owner of a Cheshire pub has been fined after a customer was taken ill when they were wrongly served a pizza containing gluten.

William Shaw, was the owner of The Royal Oak Hotel in Kelsall, when the council launched an investigation into the business on February 17 last year.

Cheshire West and Chester Council's food team attended the hotel following an allegation a customer suffered illness after being served a pizza containing gluten instead of the gluten-free pizza they had ordered.

While at the Chester Road premises, the food team officers also carried out a full food hygiene inspection.

The inspection revealed the business had inadequate procedures in place to manage food safey and allergens as well as a lack of food hygiene and allergen training for staff.

The premises were also found to be dirty, with defective items of equipment (including a mouldy ice maker), risks of cross-contamination and out of date food was found in the fridge.

When interviewed, Shaw, of Llys Derwen, Higher Kinnerton, admitted a gluten-containing pizza had been served instead of the requested gluten-free pizza and was sorry.

The 57-year-old agreed the standard of cleanliness was unacceptable and was working hard to improve standards.

After he plead guilty to all nine food safety and hygiene offences, magistrates fined the company director of Oak Cheshire Ltd - which was trading as The Royal Oak Hotel - a total of £2,460 and ordered him to pay £880 costs, a £190 victim surcharge and £500 in compensation to the customer.

The Royal Oak premises have been revisited several times following the initial visit to ensure compliance and were awarded a hygiene rating of five in January 2023. The business has since changed hands and is now under new management.

The council’s cabinet member for homes, planning and safer communities, Cllr Christine Warner said: "Officers within our public protection service team work proactively to help business owners comply with legislation and meet hygiene standards and food safety.

"The vast majority of food establishments in Cheshire West operate to a high standard; we have a duty to the public to take effective action where others do not make the same effort.

"In this case officers witnessed poor conditions that posed a risk to the public and the fine imposed sends a clear and strong message the courts will treat such situations seriously."

Cheshire West and Chester Council operates a paid for advisory service for all food businesses called the ‘GET5’ scheme. Call 01244 973486 for more information or see the council’s website.