A family outing to The Bell Hotel, a Greene King pub in Tewkesbury, turned traumatic when 14-month-old Rex was scalded by a scorching dessert placed dangerously close to him.
Rachael Willis, the distressed mother, holds the pub’s staff training responsible after her baby was burned by a sticky toffee pudding that was served directly within his reach on Saturday, April 16. The family was celebrating an anniversary when the incident occurred.
According to Rachael, a waitress unintentionally placed the piping-hot dessert too close to Rex, who immediately reached out and touched it, burning his fingers. “When she set the dessert down, it was right next to Rex. He saw something sweet and went to grab it—then he stuck his fingers into it,” Rachael explained.
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Rex’s silent scream quickly turned to loud crying as his mother pulled his fingers away. “My hand felt the second-hand heat—it was searing hot—and he was screaming right there at the table.”
Rachael and her husband Callum rushed to rinse Rex’s hand under cold water in the pub’s bathroom. Meanwhile, staff began filling out an incident report despite the family still administering first aid and trying to comfort their son. Rachael described feeling rushed and overlooked: “They started asking for my address and phone number while Rex was still screaming, instead of waiting for a more appropriate moment.”
Seeking answers, Rachael attempted to speak to the pub manager, but claims she was ignored. “I introduced myself, thanked the waitress who was visibly upset, but the manager simply disappeared without addressing us.”
The pub removed the charge for the dessert after Rachael declined a replacement, but the emotional and physical impact on the family lingered. Rex was taken to the A&E and later referred to Bristol Royal Infirmary for specialist care, where doctors treated blisters caused by the severe burn. The injury, described as a large blister on his middle finger, is expected to take around a month to fully heal. Despite it all, Rachael says Rex remains resilient and spirited.
Rachael strongly believes poor staff training concerning food handling and serving protocols contributed to the accident. She explained that the sticky toffee pudding was reportedly heated to 97.3 degrees Celsius and served immediately after microwave heating—far too hot to be placed near a toddler.
She stressed the importance of safety measures: “Staff need to ensure food temperatures are safe before serving, especially around children. Desserts coming straight out of microwaves at such high heat should never be put on menus or served without checking.”
The Bell Hotel has acknowledged the incident and assured that a thorough investigation is underway. A spokesperson stated: “We take customer health and safety extremely seriously and are working closely with the family. We are investigating the circumstances and will update them on our findings and steps moving forward. Our thoughts remain with the family, and we wish Rex a full and speedy recovery.”