Pub kitchen was over-run with mice
A country pub near Telford was closed for a day on the orders of health inspectors after they found the kitchen over-run with mice, a court heard. A country pub near Telford was closed for a day on the orders of health inspectors after they found the kitchen over-run with mice, a court heard. The pests were attracted by dirt, grease and food debris which caked the walls, floors and cooker of the kitchen and food storeroom at The Last Inn in Church Aston, Telford Magistrates Court was told yesterday. Tenants Karl Henschell, 55, and 45-year-old Raymond Owen, who both live at the Wellington Road pub, were each fined £1,500. They admitted six offences, including failure to clean the kitchen, deal with mouse infestation and ensure staff were trained, under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006. The court heard that the pub had since been cleaned and reopened, the mouse problem resolved and staff trained. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
A country pub near Telford was closed for a day on the orders of health inspectors after they found the kitchen over-run with mice, a court heard.The pests were attracted by dirt, grease and food debris which caked the walls, floors and cooker of the kitchen and food storeroom at The Last Inn in Church Aston, Telford Magistrates Court was told yesterday.
Mrs Lorraine Fowkes, prosecuting for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "Mouse infestation was widespread and a potential risk to human health."
The kitchen floors were cracked and holed, there was not enough ventilation and the head chef and food handlers were inadequately trained, she said.
Tenants Karl Henschell, 55, and 45-year-old Raymond Owen, who both live at the Wellington Road pub, were each fined £1,500.
They admitted six offences, including failure to clean the kitchen, deal with mouse infestation and ensure staff were trained, under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.
Magistrates made no orders for costs after hearing the pair, who first met while working for the ambulance service, faced financial ruin.
Mrs Fowkes said an inspection was carried out at the pub on February 15 following a complaint.
The potential risk to customers' health was so great an emergency prohibition order was made to close the pub. It was lifted the following day after remedial work.
Mr John McMillan, for the two men, said they took over the pub in August 2006.
Henschell ran the business, while Owen supplied the finance through his redundancy payment from his former job as assistant director of operations with the ambulance service.
But, the court heard, their dream of running a country pub became a nightmare due to the smoking ban, cheap competition from supermarkets and being tied to an expensive lease.
Mr McMillan said: "They are losing money hand over fist and are on the slippery path to oblivion."
He said the pair had virtually no assets, their retirement funds had been swallowed up and Henschell had remortgaged his house in Brookside, Telford.
Mr McMillan said the pub had since been cleaned and reopened, the mouse problem resolved and staff trained.
By Peter Johnson
