A POPULAR Wirral hotel and spa has been hit with a one-star food hygiene rating.

The four-star establishment, Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa, located on Neston Road, is known by many as a "luxurious spa resort" that caters for events, weddings and spa breaks.

After an inspection by the Food Standards Agency on August 17, the hotel was awarded a one-star food hygiene rating, meaning "major improvement is necessary".

According to the Food Standards Agency website, the areas, "hygiene food handling" which falls under food preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling, and storage, and the "management of food safety" which falls under the system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat and evidence that staff know about food safety said "major improvement" was necessary.

However, the "cleanliness and condition of facilities and building" were rated good by inspectors.

What did Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa say?

A spokesperson from Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa said: "Thornton Hall was inspected on August 17 2023 by Wirral Environmental Health officers as part of a routine visit. 

"During the inspection a procedural issue was highlighted by the officers, which was immediately rectified whilst the officers were still on the premises.

"Thornton Hall is currently awaiting a follow-up visit, which will confirm that this issue has now been resolved."