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Wimbledon restaurant faces £10,000 fine for infestation
09/01/2012
A popular restaurant in Wimbledon has been fined £10,000 for food hygiene offences relating to the discovery of a mouse infestation in the premises.
Jimmy Spice's came to the attention of Merton Council's environmental health officers after a member of the public reported having had a mouse run over his foot during a lunchtime meal at the restaurant in March 2011.
Officers subsequently discovered a severe mouse infestation at the restaurant that was affecting two food storerooms on the first floor of the premises. Mice had chewed through numerous bags of food and urinated over packaging.
The owners of Jimmy Spice's parent company, East and West Restaurants Ltd, pleaded guilty to five offences under the food hygiene regulations before Wimbledon Magistrates Court on 21 December 2011.
Jimmy Spice's general manager, Chander Ahuja, said they had taken extensive and comprehensive measures to address the infestation and now had a pest control contractor carrying out regular checks on parts of the premises. They have also retrained staff members in food hygiene regulations.
Mr Ahuja said, "We have taken the matter seriously and are doing whatever we can to ensure food safety remains a top concern."
The company will also have to pay the council's costs of £1,530, as well as a victim surcharge of £15.
