Things are improving on the field and in the kitchen for Manchester United.
The resurgent Reds, whose stunning victory at Arsenal on Sunday followed a shock derby day triumph under new boss Michael Carrick, had endured two years of misery when it came to the cleanliness of the food operation at Old Trafford.
Back in December 2024, Daily Mail Sport revealed United had been slapped with a one-star rating – the lowest possible – after guests were served with raw chicken at a corporate event.
Inspectors demanded ‘major improvement’ with a number of visitors to a Safety Health Environment Show left poorly after an unhappy encounter with some undercooked chicken thighs.
A follow-up visit was arranged which United officials had hoped would see their 5-star status – commonplace across the Premier League – restored.
However, that inspection uncovered a host of further issues, including mould in a dishwasher, grease ‘dripping down a wall’ and ‘rotting metal shelves in a store room’. Instead of top marks, a four-star rating was issued, with United promising a rapid fix to the problems.
Man United have been given a five-star rating by health inspectors after years of bad reviews
Things are improving on and off the pitch at United – who beat Arsenal 3-2 on Sunday evening
But a subsequent check, later last year, saw the rating plummet to two-stars after mouse droppings were found in seven areas across the stadium – including the No 7 Suite, which is described on the club website as ‘one of the most stylish spaces’ in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, where prices start from £550 per person.
A ‘large number of droppings’ were also found in the swanky Manchester Suite. At the time, the club said they implemented ‘a robust pest-control system’ and added that ‘immediate action was taken’ if such instances occur.
Staff were understood to have been left devastated by the development and, according to insiders, have since worked ‘tremendously hard’ to restore the club to the expected level.
And, earlier this month, that work was rewarded when the latest inspection finally saw the 5-star rating restored.
Inspectors rated cleanliness of facilities and building, management of food safety and hygienic food handling all of a high standard and delivered the highest verdict.
Old Trafford’s age, coupled with its canalside location, 29 kitchens and 250,000 diners per season present a challenging environment, with any mistakes likely to impact the overall rating.
