A Chinnor restaurant which lost its Michelin star in the latest guidebook has now been hit by an £18,000 fine for breaching health and safety rules.

Baybright Limited, the firm representing Sir Charles Napier restaurant, pleaded guilty to three counts of contravening or failing to comply with EU provision concerning food safety and hygiene.

Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard at the restaurant company’s sentencing hearing how the eatery did not implement and maintain food safety procedures and had no documented food safety procedures in place for high risk dishes on the menu.

Food records implemented and available were not up to date and some food safety records had been fabricated.

The business also failed to ensure adequate training was in place for developing and maintaining procedures.

Food handlers were also not supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene matters.

During the sentencing hearing the court heard how the eatery had made a turnover of £995,230 and one year earlier the restaurant was excluded from the influential Michelin star guide.

At the time of the snub Julia Griffiths, the owner of the Sir Charles Napier said: “We were devastated to hear the news, but this morning there is a certain sense of relief that we can get back to being ‘true to ourselves’ after four years of ‘Michelin star pressure.”

Magistrates’ on Tuesday ordered that the firm pay a fine of £6,000 for each offence, totalling £18,000, for what was termed ‘potentially misleading customers in relation to the state of the food compliance.’ In mitigation the court heard that the restaurant had taken steps to improve their practices in light of the charges.

As well as the fine the company must also pay court costs of £2,571 and a victim surcharge of £170 to be paid in full within six months.