A pub run by a couple who rose to fame broadcasting their family life on TikTok has been found 'in need of improvement' by a food hygiene inspector.

Katy and Roland 'Daddy' May became landlord and landlady of The Russell Arms in Butlers Cross, Aylesbury, in March – leveraging their online success and 1.5 million TikTok followers to "create something tangible out of social media".

The effort has largely been a success, with 4.2 stars on Google and hundreds of reviews praising the viral boozer's "tasty food and quick, friendly service" but, six months after opening, Katy and Roland have received an unpleasant dose of reality in the form of the site's first food hygiene rating.

An inspector conducted a surprise examination of the pub on July 30 and awarded it an underwhelming two-out-of-five stars – 'in need of improvement' – pointing to factors including an apparent lack of staff hygiene training, deteriorated cooking equipment and a box of out-of-date scallops stored in a kitchen fridge.

Roland, who began posting cooking videos on TikTok in 2021 – with his wife and children making increasingly regular appears before a family-centric pivot down the line – described the rating as both "embarrassing" and "disastrous" for the fledgling business, which is more reliant on reputational trade than most.

READ MORE: Bucks contractor to be investigated after 'serious explosion' caused fire by bus stop

He said the poor inspection had been due to a combination of missing paperwork and being "let down by an employee we trusted to handle that side of things" – also admitting to a "naivety" about "simple" cleanliness practices including having lids on kitchen bins and correct fridge temperatures. 

"We opened to such a fanfare and it was so busy at the start that we got a bit swept away. Then, after the issues we had with an employee, we closed for a day and took all the staff to the Windsor Races to let off some steam.

"The inspector came the next day, before we'd had the chance to do things like throw out the scallops, which were only one day out of date. I'm not making excuses – I take complete ownership of what happened, but it was really frustrating.

"We were just badly let down in terms of the kitchen management. But we've listened to all the advice and got everything changed now. 

"We have also booked a reinspection, which will hopefully happen soon. This is the last thing we wanted, but there's nothing wrong with the pub now. That's what we want people to know."