Rat traces found at Shropshire border restaurant
Rat droppings, unclean equipment and food left out of fridges were found at an award-winning restaurant during an inspection by Environmental Health officers.
The owners of the 2013 Welsh Curry House of the Year, Bengal Spices in Llanmynech, near Oswestry, were yesterday fined £5,000 each and ordered to pay £900 in costs and court surcharges when they appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court.
Magistrates said they were not issuing a prohibition order, which would have closed the restaurant, after hearing of the strenuous steps taken to improve hygiene.
Mizanur Chowdhury, 43, and Rabiul Alam, 35, who gave their address as Ashfield House, Llanymynech, admitted nine counts under the Food Safety Act in a prosecution brought by Powys County Council.
Mr Nigel Vaughan, prosecuting, said the charges arose from a visit to the restaurant on November 6 last year following a complaint from a member of the public.
He said rat droppings were found in the ladies' toilet and in the lobby and there was evidence that rats had entered the premises through the toilet wall.
The food area was not kept in a clean condition and neither was the equipment, he told the court.
Other offences related to the safe defrosting of food with items found thawing out of the fridge and to the storage of raw and cooked food.
Mr Vaughan said food had been stored on low shelves without covers, open to flies and other pests. He said raw food such as prepared salads and also cooked rice had not been in the fridge, which could have led to the growth of bacteria.
The final offence related to not keeping correct food standards records.
Magistrates heard that an earlier inspection in September had uncovered similar offences but that the owners had agreed to put in measures to deal with these.
Mrs Elizabeth Kenny, for the defendants, said that the November inspection happened when Chowdhury had had to fly to Bangladesh to care for his dying mother. This had left his business partner to cope single-handedly and standards, which included nightly thorough cleaning, had been allowed to slip.
She said after the November inspection the business had brought in pest control experts and the premises had been deep cleaned.
"A new tiled floor and two new fridges have been installed and a completely all stainless surface is planned for October," she said.
"My clients are keen to restore their reputation as the national Welsh curry champions."
Magistrates said because of the improvements and staff training they were not imposing a prohibition order.
