Hotel fined £120,000 after mice droppings found in kitchen and bar
A TOP Birmingham hotel has been fined £120,000 after admitting failing food and hygiene standards after a mice infestation was discovered in its kitchen.
Hotel Du Vin, in Church Street, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Food Safety and Hygiene Act at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, as reported in last week’s Post.
This week district Judge Jan Jellema fined Hotel Du Vin £120,000 and ordered the company to pay court costs of £12,216 plus a surcharge of £170.
One charge related to a failure to ensure the food premises were clean in relation to mice droppings and the other to a failure to keep equipment clean on the food premises.
Lee Bennett, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council, said environmental officers were alerted by a diner who had spotted a mouse in the restaurant.
He said officers visited the restaurant on September 28, 2016, and found numerous evidence of mice droppings in the kitchen and bar areas.
A hygiene emergency prohibition order was immediately served on the hotel until environmental health chiefs were satisfied the required hygiene standards had been reached.
A look into the company’s hygiene checklists showed cleanliness checks had been signed off by the sous chef and head chef, despite the clear unclean parts of the kitchens.
Documents also revealed food and debris had been discovered in February 2015 but no action had been taken until June 2015.
Mr Bennett also said equipment in the kitchen was also unclean as was the bar floor and shelving.
The court heard there was also a failure by Hotel du Vin to keep the premises in good repair including a flyscreen which was partially damaged, ceiling tiles which were damaged and others displaced and gaps between walls.
Mr Bennett said: “There was an imminent risk to the health of the public on September 28 and immediate action had to be taken.”
Iain MacDonald, representing Hotel Du Vin, said there had been improvements to the kitchen including a new floor and bar areas totalling £39,000 to ensure mice were kept out.
He said: “We fell below acceptable standards but this was a one off and we had rectified the problems and were back open on September 30. The company was employing a pest control company which was clearly not doing its job properly. But staff had been failing in their obligations on cleanliness and they have been disciplined. Staff have also been given intensive training. We have since brought in a new pest control company which visits 52 times a year now instead of the previous 17.
“Hotel Du Vin has been professional and co-operative with the city council from the very beginning and we have done everything possible to get this put right. We have now had our five star rating reinstated.”