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Sir Ian McKellen’s pub loses two stars over poor food hygiene

The 500-year-old Grade II listed The Grapes, in Limehouse, has been part owned by the 83-year-old actor since 2011 - marc zakian / Alamy Stock Photo
The 500-year-old Grade II listed The Grapes, in Limehouse, has been part owned by the 83-year-old actor since 2011 - marc zakian / Alamy Stock Photo

Sir Ian McKellen’s London pub has lost two stars from its hygiene rating after inspectors discovered out-of-date food and a fridge operating at 16C (60.8F).

The 500-year-old Grade II listed The Grapes, in Limehouse, has been part owned by the 83-year-old actor since 2011.

When Tower Hamlets Council hygiene inspectors visited the pub in Oct 2022, they found chicken curry and salmon which were 12 days out of date, as well as 19-day-old noodles.

They also discovered one fridge operating at 16C (60.8F) – at least 11C (51.8F) over the temperature expected.

Antibacterial soap was not available in the kitchen, while a shelf for storing chopping boards was dirty.

A report published by the inspectors concluded: "You must check the fridges daily and any out-of-date food must be discarded."

It also recommended a temperature probe within a week to check stored food and to fix the seals on the fridge doors, which were broken.

Sir Ian owns The Grapes alongside Sean Mathias, 66, his former partner and film director, and Russian-British businessman Evgeny Lebedev, 42.

Sir Ian McKellen - Instagram
Sir Ian McKellen - Instagram

The trio are all directors of The Pies Pub Ltd. The pub will have the chance to regain the two lost stars at another inspection in March.

A spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council confirmed the that pub had been rated at level five before Oct 2022, when it slipped to three.

The spokesman added: "We carry out regular checks on all food premises to ensure the public is protected and that high standards are maintained.

"Our food safety team is responsible for the inspection of over 2,500 food businesses in the borough. This includes all food premises where food is handled, prepared or stored, whether money is exchanged or not.

"Businesses are not pre-warned about impending spot checks. These are scheduled according to the degree of potential risk, ensuring high-risk premises are visited more frequently."

Sir Ian and The Pies Pub Ltd have been contacted for comment.