PUBS, restaurants and coffee shops in the Cotswolds are celebrating after being awarded the highest rating for food hygiene.

Details of inspections from December and this month have been released and a total of eight eateries in the district were awarded five stars.

When working out what rating to award a business, Cotswold District Council (CDC) officers check how hygienically food is handled, the condition of the building and how the business manages its processes for making sure food is safe.

If a business is awarded five out of five, it means staff there are spot on with their hygiene procedures.

Fairford’s The Bull Hotel was awarded five out of five at the beginning of this month, with staff praised for making huge improvements since previous three and zero star ratings.

Manager Ian Summers was delighted and praised chef Jamie Woods.

“This is no more than the team deserve for all of their hard work. Chef Jamie and his team have pushed endlessly to make sure our high standards are achieved.

“The hygiene of the kitchen and the hotel is something that is very important to us and has been since we took over two years ago. It is one of the things we hope we have improved and I guess this award proves so.”

Staff at the newly-opened Domino’s pizza takeaway at Cirencester Retail Park are celebrating after receiving five stars following an inspection in December.

While the Costa coffee shops in both Cirencester’s Cricklade Street and Brewery Court also received the highest number of stars.

Tetbury’s Blue Zucchini Brasserie received five stars in January, delighting staff, while Cirencester sandwich bar Stacked also received top marks.

The Inn at Fossebridge, near Chedworth, was also amongst the five-star club, while The Little Pickle in Moreton-in-Marsh received the top status in December.

All details were taken from the Food Standards Agency website, food.gov.uk, where CDC inspection results are published.