A ‘quintessentially English’ Wiltshire tea room has been given the ‘all clear’ to reopen after managing a 'rat problem'.

But the Bridge Tea Rooms in Bradford on Avon still has a zero food hygiene rating after being told by Wiltshire Council in August that ‘urgent improvements’ were necessary.

Owners Roy and Alison Hayward blamed the zero rating on rats coming over the road from the Bradford on Avon library car park and the banks of the River Avon.

Mr Hayward said: “We have actually been given the all clear but we haven’t done another food rating thing yet.

“We have managed to get rid of the rats by basically having to secure and rodent-proof the building and kill them off.

READ MORE: Wiltshire tea room given zero food hygiene rating amid nearby 'rat problem'

“We have been open for about five to six weeks now. There has been no evidence of any rodent activity, I am pleased to say.

“I am very pleased. It means that we can remain open and not have to worry about anything like that happening.”

The Bridge Tearooms were given the zero rating following an inspection by the Food Standards Agency on Tuesday, August 6.

Officials found urgent 'major improvements' were necessary in all three categories for structural compliance, food hygiene and safety, and confidence in management.

Mr Hayward said they were working closely with Wiltshire Council and Nurture Pest Control (previously known as Rokill) to exterminate the rodents entering the premises.

He said at the time: “We want to make sure there is absolutely no evidence that they have come into our place before we reopen and know that it is safe.”

The Bridge Tea Rooms were previously given food hygiene ratings of four and ‘Good’ in June 2023 and November 2021.

Mr Hayward said they plan to arrange a further inspection by the Food Standards Agency when they have completed further work on the premises.

The tea rooms are located in one of Bradford on Avon’s oldest buildings, a former blacksmith’s cottage dating back to 1502 and were described by the prestigious UK Tea Guild as 'near perfect'.

The Bridge Tearooms claim to offer the very best in ‘quintessentially English’ afternoon tea, lunches, and light meals throughout the day.