A TOWN centre pub which received a lowly ranking in its latest food hygiene report has been taken over by new owners.

The Hole in the Wall, which is on Balkerne Hill in Colchester between the Mercury Theatre and St Mary’s Car Park, received just one star out of a possible five during an inspection carried out by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in February.

It was then that the Colchester pub was told it must make major improvements in its management and food safety to ensure the premises are safe for customers to eat in.

The cleanliness and condition of the facilities were rated “generally satisfactory” by the FSA.

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But given the pub has been taken over, a new inspection has automatically been generated meaning the most recent FSA report is no longer valid.

The Hole in the Wall is not the only pub to have been given a poor rating by the FSA in recent months, with the Rovers Tye receiving two stars after inspectors found it didn't have hot water.

The Food Standards Agency, which is an independent government department, was established in 2000 to minimise the number of illnesses caused by poor practice.