Pub where 19 diners fell ill gets zero for hygiene

The pub is expected to be reinspected at the end of the month

A pub where 19 people suffered a bout of food poisoning following Sunday lunch at the restaurant's carvery has been given a zero-star hygiene rating.

Torfaen council gave Cwrt Henllys Bar & Restaurant, in Cwmbran, the rating following an investigation into customers falling unwell on 5 October.

The council confirmed the cause of food poisoning was Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium which can develop in food during the cooling down process, adding there was no wider public risk.

Gemma Kenney, who runs the bar and restaurant, said: "It's a terrible situation, we take full accountability. We've put everything right for our patrons."

Last month, 52 people were reported becoming unwell with suspected food poisoning after visiting the Cwrt Henllys Hotel carvery.

An environmental health team and Public Health Wales investigated the cause, and 19 cases of food poisoning were confirmed by the council.

No further cases were subsequently reported.

Ms Kenney said 200 people ate at the carvery on Sunday 5 October, adding the venue had not received any further complaints since.

She said the restaurant and kitchen were "still completely open", adding "we've never had so much support from customers".

The pub is expected to be reinspected by food hygiene officers before the end of November.

A Torfaen County Borough Council spokesperson said: "Following an investigation by officers of Torfaen council's public protection service into reports of illness affecting customers who had eaten at the Cwrt Henllys Hotel near Cwmbran, the results of microbiological sampling have confirmed the cause to be due to a food poisoning organism known as Clostridium perfringens.

"No further cases have been reported as being unwell after eating at the Cwrt Henllys on October 5, 2025 and there remains no wider public health risk."

What is Clostridium perfringens?

According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Clostridium perfringens is widespread in animals and the environment.

Its spores can survive cooking and grow during cooling and unrefrigerated storage.

The FSA's website said: "Outbreaks of C. perfringens food poisoning tend to happen in settings where large groups of people and/or food are being served and where keeping food at safe temperatures may be difficult.

"This also applies to batch cooking at home where you may leave food out to cool longer than you intended while preparing other food."