Restaurant fined £16,000 for “considerable” rodent infestation
Food Hygiene Inspectors found that the storage facilities were infested with mice Photo credit: Cardiff Council
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Restaurant and owner fined £16,000 for mice infestation and hygiene breaches
Inspectors found inadequate hygiene, unclean premises, and poor pest control
Judge warned future offences could lead to a prison sentence
A Cyncoed restaurant and its owner have been fined £16,000 after inspectors discovered an active mice infestation and multiple food hygiene violations.
Lake Spice Curry House, located on Lake Road West, and its owner, Mamun Miah, faced prosecution after an inspection on September 21 2023.
Food Hygiene Inspectors from Shared Regulatory Services found that the storage facilities were infested with mice, and the restaurant’s layout was inadequate for maintaining good hygiene practices and that the premises were not clean or well-maintained.
They were prosecuted for failing to control the infestation and maintain proper hygiene standards.
Mr. Miah pleaded guilty to all charges at Cardiff Magistrates Court on March 19 this year.
In mitigation, Miah’s lawyer argued that there was no contamination in the food or food preparation areas, only in the storage areas, and that efforts were made to limit pest activity, but these fell short of requirements.
Labour Cllr Norma Mackie, cabinet member for shared regulatory services at Cardiff Council said: “The extent of pests at this business was considerable, and the efforts taken by the defendant to deal with the problem were limited. Much more should have and could have been done to remedy the failures.”
The judge noted that profit was being prioritised over safety, which could have had serious implications for customers' health and warned that if Miah is summoned before the court again for similar offences, an immediate prison sentence would be appropriate.
Lakeside Restaurant Limited was fined £10,000, ordered to pay £877 in costs, and a £2,000 Victim Surcharge. Mamun Miah was fined £2,000, ordered to pay £877 in costs, with a £500 Victim Surcharge.
