The team behind an award winning pub which was temporarily shut by Environmental Health, last week, has spoken of the ‘exceptional circumstances’ surrounding the closure.

 

Lea Bridge Road’s Hare and Hounds pub was closed to punters for three days, after inspectors arrived unannounced, last Tuesday.

 

At the time, the pub was preparing for the wake for community campaigner Katy Andrews who died suddenly, last month.

 

Council Environmental Health officers carried out an inspection and said they found a mouldy pot, and items unfit for consumption including chillies and meat and dirty equipment.

 

However, the owners have fiercely defended their pub, stating it was a series of unfortunate events leading up to the inspection, which caused the problems.

 

“Those items were never going to be served to any customers,” landlady Rita Acharya said.

 

“We are so passionate about our customers and health and safety here. We wouldn’t be in this business otherwise.”

 

Rita, who runs the kitchen, said she made a fresh curry on Wednesday evening (June 17) and had left the pot to cool down.

 

However, a number of ingredients were left on the side due to a busy day and ongoing refurbishment.

 

Then, Rita fractured her leg getting off the bus.

 

"I was injured for 4 days and everything went wrong, obviously I was shocked when the council's Inspector told me what he had found,” she said.

 “This isn’t a chain, or a big place, I do this on my own.

 

“I did make a mistake by not putting the pot away, but I never would have served it after that. My customers know that.

 

“I had the accident and there was nobody else to do it.

 

“The kitchen porter left and a few things got left to the side by people in the kitchen. I couldn’t even go in there.

 

“I’m not making excuses, I understand what has happened but it is not a reflection of our pub.”

The inspectors came in on Tuesday (June 23) and due to their concerns, they issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice (HEPN) and the premises was immediately closed.

A clean up ensued and it was re-opened on Friday.

 

“People are always out here waiting for their curry on a Wednesday because I cook it all fresh. Our meat is delivered on a Sunday, every week,” Rita added.

The pub, which has four stars on Google review, is looking forward to a new menu launching on July 10.