A distressing incident at a Tewkesbury pub has left a 14-month-old baby boy from Gloucestershire with painful burns after a hot dessert was placed too close to him.
Rachael Willis, the baby’s mother, has raised concerns over inadequate staff training at The Bell Hotel, a Greene King pub, following the accident that occurred during a family anniversary meal on Saturday, April 16.
Rex was seated in his high chair when a waitress served a sticky toffee pudding directly within his reach. The toddler immediately touched the dessert’s center, burning his hand. Rachael emphasizes the fault lies not with the waitress, who was clearly upset, but with the pub’s failure to properly train staff on handling hot food safely around children.
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“When the waitress placed the pudding down, she was trying to get it in front of me, but it ended up within arm’s reach of Rex,” Rachael explained. “He saw the sweet and reached out, sticking his fingers right into it.”
Although the contact lasted only three to four seconds, Rachael felt the intense heat. “My hand burned from the second-hand heat. He was screaming at the table.”
Rachael and her husband, Callum, quickly administered first aid by running Rex’s hand under cold water in the pub’s bathroom. While they tried to calm their son, staff began filling out an incident report, asking personal details even as Rex was still distressed. Rachael found this approach insensitive during such a moment.
Attempts to speak with a manager were unsuccessful, with Rachael accusing management of ignoring her concerns. Staff only removed the cost of the pudding from the bill, without offering a replacement, after Rachael declined it.
Rex was rushed to A&E and later received specialist care at Bristol Royal Infirmary, suffering blisters on his middle finger severe enough to require ongoing nursing attention. Doctors estimate the injuries will take around a month to heal. Despite the pain, Rachael commends her son’s resilience.
She believes the incident could have been avoided had the pub implemented proper safety procedures. According to Rachael, the dessert was served at 97.3 degrees, reportedly straight from the microwave. She stresses that food should never be placed near children unless its temperature is safe and that staff must be trained to check temperatures before serving.
The Bell Hotel has confirmed it is conducting a full investigation and remains in contact with the family. A spokesperson stated, “We take the health and safety of our customers extremely seriously. Our thoughts are with the family, and we wish the little boy a speedy recovery.”