Palmers Brewery in Bridport has been awarded the maximum five-star rating for excellent food safety and hygiene.

All food premises in West Dorset are inspected and awarded an overall score from five stars (the best) to no stars (the worst). The score is based on an assessment of food hygiene standards, standard of building and the inspectors’ confidence in the management.

As Britain’s only thatched brewery, Palmers occupies a historic building but this brings its own production challenges. The previous hygiene score reached four stars, rated as very good, but the top marks eluded them.

Last year Palmers spent £250,000 on a new racker and cask washer, just part of the recent investments to modernise the Old Brewery while preserving its unique character.

‘We were very pleased to get five stars for hygiene,’ said Head Brewer Darren Batten.

‘The new equipment helped but it’s also down to the hard work of the brewhouse team, led by Neal Wheeler. It’s more difficult to keep the fabric of an old building clean and they do a fantastic job.’