KNOWSLEY Hall says it has made "significant changes and improvements" after being given a one-star food hygiene rating.

The events venue, at the ancestral home of the Earls of Derby, received the score after an inspection by the Food Standards Agency on September 6.  

READ > McDonald's gives update on restaurant refurbishment

The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which is responsible for ensuring that establishments are up to scratch in terms of food hygiene regulations, and that they are safe to frequent, rates venues following inspections.

Here is how the scores are graded:

5 – hygiene standards are very good

4 – hygiene standards are good

3 – hygiene standards are generally satisfactory

2 – some improvement is necessary

1 – major improvement is necessary

0 – urgent improvement is required

How Knowsley Hall was rated

Against the following criteria, the Prescot-based Knowsley Hall was rated:

  • Hygienic food handling
    Hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage - Improvement necessary
  • Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building

    Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building (including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control) to enable good food hygiene - Improvement necessary

  • Management of food safety 

  • System or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future - Major improvement necessary

The Knowsley Park stately home venue was given a one-star rating overall. 

When approached by the Star about this, a Knowsley Hall spokesperson said the venue had made improvements following feedback from the inspection, and added all "necessary measures" are in place to help regain a five-star rating.

The spokesperson at Knowsley Hall said: “We’ve made significant changes and improvements based on the feedback from the recent inspection, and have put all the necessary measures in place to help us regain our 5* rating.

"We have a proud history of holding a 5* rating and we look forward to quickly returning to this level of accreditation that we’re well known for.”