A HOTEL near Hook has been handed a four-out-of-five food hygiene rating after an inspection - improving on its previous score.

Basingstoke Country Hotel, on the A30 in Nateley Scures, was rated 'good' following a visit from inspectors on February 27. The hotel was previously told 'major improvement is necessary' after a visit on November 22, last year.

Food safety officers rate food hygiene by the handling of food, the cleanliness and condition of the building and facilities, and the officer's confidence in the establishment.

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Basingstoke Gazette:

The cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, which includes the layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control, was found to be very good.

The inspection found that generally satisfactory systems or checks are in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, including staff’s knowledge of food safety and the inspector’s confidence that standards will be maintained in the future.

Inspectors found the handling of food at the establishment, which includes preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling, and storage, is very good.

A spokesperson for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said: "The Basingstoke Country Hotel was visited by one of the council’s food safety officers on Tuesday 27 February, to re-score the premises, following a request from the business owner.

"After this inspection the premises was awarded a food rating of four ‘good'."

Basingstoke Country Hotel told the Gazette it 'will not be commenting further on this issue'.