A KIDDERMINSTER pub which has recently changed hands has been awarded a new five-star food hygiene rating.

The Viaduct Tavern, on Chester Road South, received top marks from the Food Standards Agency following a recent inspection.

Entrepreneur Darren Brett, who previously played at Nottingham Forest as a trainee in the 90s, took over the management of the popular drinking spot earlier this month.

Hygiene ratings are published on the Food Standards Agency’s website which rates businesses from zero to five so customers can make more informed choices about where to buy and eat food.

A rating of five means hygiene standards are very good, four means hygiene standards are good, three means hygiene standards are generally satisfactory, two means some improvement is necessary, a rating of one means major improvement is necessary and a rating of zero means urgent improvement is required.

Mr Brett left Nottingham Forest in 1996 without having made a first-team appearance and went to the United States where he worked first with the Colorado Rapids and then with Colorado Rush.

He was part of a team that expanded the club’s youth programme from just five teams to around 5,200 players. The Rush Soccer franchise which Mr Brett was involved in had around 47,000 players across the US by the time he returned the Britain after 11 years.

He then became involved in running pubs and has been in charge of several Marston's pubs over the last decade.