The owner of a hotel on the city outskirts claims he's lost nearly half his business thanks to delays getting a new hygiene rating from the council.

Dean Critoph, owner of The White Pheasant, said he is pleading with South Norfolk and Broadland District Council to give them a new hygiene rating a month after an inspector revisited the Lenwade-based site off of Fakenham Road.

The hotel received a one-star food hygiene rating in August with major improvement needed in its management of food safety -  after claims a fed-up employee took relevant paperwork prior to the inspection.

The authority, however, says a monitoring visit took place in September but a request for a new rating needs to be submitted and they have not yet received one.

Dean Critoph, owner of The White Pheasant, is asking the council to provide an updated food hygiene ratingDean Critoph, owner of The White Pheasant, is asking the council to provide an updated food hygiene rating (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Critoph said the delays in getting a new rating are costing him business.

He said: "Typical council. We've had a revisit but we still haven't received a new score yet.

"The inspector was happy with what we had done, but it's been more than a month since then and I've heard nothing.

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"Less than a week after the first inspection we got hit with the one-star rating, so they're quick enough to knock you down, but not quick to help you back up.

The White Pheasant, off of Fakenham Road, in LenwadeThe White Pheasant, off of Fakenham Road, in Lenwade (Image: Newsquest)

"I've put in a formal complaint because we've lost nearly 50pc of business due to how long we've had to wait.

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"The main issue was the missing paperwork, which can knock off two stars immediately, but we got the book up to date before the revisit.

"I'm not asking to have our rating put back up because I didn't agree with the initial one-star rating - we took that on the chin - I'm asking to be put back up because we've done what has been asked of us."

Mr Critoph has put in a complaint with the council claiming the delays have cost him nearly 50pc of businessMr Critoph has put in a complaint with the council claiming the delays have cost him nearly 50pc of business (Image: Newsquest)