THE HOLIDAY Inn on York’s Tadcaster Road has been rated the company's worst in the country for hygiene.

The hotel near Knavesmire became the only Holiday Inn in the country to get a one out of five rating, when the hygiene inspectors visited at the beginning of July.

Inspectors said the hotel needed to improve its food preparation, the state of facilities, and its management systems.

Their report said the hotel needed to improve food preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage. It also said the cleanliness and condition of facilities and building - including issues such as ventilation, hand-washing facilities and pest control - needed improvement.

The worst judgement was reserved for the hotel’s management of food safety, and its systems for checking the food was safe to eat - and in that area managers were told they needed to make major improvements.

Managers at the hotel say they have made a lot of changes since the July 1 inspection, have had another inspection since and are awaiting a new hygiene rating.

Manager Chris Freer said: “Since the inspection five weeks ago we have received a revisit, during which the Environmental Health Officer stated they were pleased with recent changes regarding the implementation of our Food Safety management system.

“Upon the Environmental Health Officers suggestion we have formally requested a re-rating visit with a view to giving the business a new and higher food hygiene rating.

He added: “We appreciate very much the help and support that the office have given.

“I am confident that this guidance, and our willingness to cooperate, have helped us to improve our management system to an excellent standard.”

The one out of five rating made the Tadcaster Road hotel the only Holiday Inn in Britain to have such a low rating, although three others in England have ratings of two.

The chain’s other branch in York - the Holiday Inn Express near Huntington - has a five star rating from an inspection in 2008, and branches in Harrogate and Leeds have four or five stars.

City of York Council has not made the full inspection report public but may do so in the coming weeks.