Manchester United's remarkable resurgence isn't limited to the football pitch - the club's culinary operations have staged an impressive comeback of their own. After enduring years of disappointing food hygiene ratings, Old Trafford has finally regained its coveted five-star status following a comprehensive turnaround effort.
From Raw Chicken to Redemption
The journey back to culinary excellence has been challenging for the Red Devils. In December 2024, Daily Mail Sport revealed that United had received a shocking one-star rating - the lowest possible score - after guests were served raw chicken at a corporate event. This embarrassing revelation came after visitors to a Safety Health Environment Show became ill following encounters with undercooked chicken thighs.
Inspectors at the time demanded "major improvement" from the club's catering operations. A follow-up visit initially resulted in a four-star rating, but this proved temporary as further issues emerged including mould in dishwashers, grease dripping down walls, and rotting metal shelves in storage areas.
Rodent Problems in Premium Suites
The situation deteriorated further later last year when the rating plummeted to just two stars. This downgrade came after inspectors discovered mouse droppings in seven different areas across the stadium, including premium hospitality spaces.
Most notably, droppings were found in the exclusive No 7 Suite - described on the club's 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 discovered in the prestigious Manchester Suite.
At the time, club officials responded by implementing "a robust pest-control system" and promised that "immediate action was taken" whenever such instances occurred. However, the damage to the club's culinary reputation had been done.
The Road to Recovery
According to insiders, staff were devastated by the successive poor ratings and worked "tremendously hard" to restore standards to the expected level. This dedication has now paid dividends following the most recent inspection earlier this month.
Inspectors finally restored the five-star rating after assessing three key areas:
- Cleanliness of facilities and building
- Management of food safety
- Hygienic food handling
All three categories received high-standard ratings, resulting in the top verdict being delivered to the club.
A Challenging Environment
Maintaining high standards at Old Trafford presents unique challenges. The stadium's age, combined with its canalside location, creates particular difficulties for food hygiene management. With 29 separate kitchens serving approximately 250,000 diners each season, any mistakes can significantly impact the overall rating.
The restoration of the five-star rating represents a significant achievement for the club's catering team, particularly given the scale and complexity of operations at one of England's largest football stadiums.
This culinary success story mirrors the team's recent on-field performances, including their stunning 3-2 victory at Arsenal under interim manager Michael Carrick. Just as the team has shown resilience and improvement, so too has the club's food operation demonstrated its capacity for recovery and excellence.
