A brewery giant has been fined £14,000 by a judge for what he called a “quite disgraceful” breach of public health at a Telford pub.
District Judge Kevin Grego said the dirty kitchens and yard at the Cuckoo Oak, Madeley, last summer had posed a “clear and obvious risk” to people eating there.
He rejected brewery Greene King’s attempt to blame its former pub manager and area manager, saying the company had failed to keep an eye on people in key positions.
Suffolk-based Greene King Brewing and Retailing Ltd admitted seven offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 at Telford Magistrates Court yesterday.
The company was fined £2,000 for each of the offences which included breaches on cleanliness, storage of waste, maintenance of equipment and procedures to control pests.
It arose out of a visit by environmental health officers on June 6 last year following an anonymous complaint and two previous warnings from Telford & Wrekin Council in 2006.
Judge Grego said: “Rubbish bins were overflowing with split plastic bags, numerous containers of waste oil were open to the elements.
“Floors were caked in grease and dirt, and eggs and perishable foods were stored in a shed.”
The judge said he was also appalled at the falsification of safety records involving the temperature of a lamb joint in the kitchen.
Mr John Brennan, for Greene King, said the pub was now under entirely new management.
He said the Cuckoo Oak had now achieved an official “good” rating in Telford & Wrekin Council’s environmental health scheme.
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