The Liverpool pub has been hit with a bill for almost £30,000 for food safety breaches
Richmond Tavern on Church Road, Wavertree (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Mouse droppings were found on a chopping board, shelving and cloths of a pub restaurant. Environmental health officers visited Richmond Tavern on Church Road in Wavertree in January last year following a complaint, and found evidence of an infestation of mice and droppings.
It was ordered to close and given a zero star food hygiene rating. During the inspection, Liverpool City Council found evidence of inadequate pest control while the business continued to serve customers.
There were mouse droppings throughout the kitchen and dining areas, including on work surfaces and shelving, on cleaning equipment and cloths, and on a chopping board. There were gaps and holes in the premises which provided rodents with access into the premises.
The court heard that conditions were so unhygienic that the pub and restaurant was immediately shut down because they presented an imminent risk to health. Mice and rats are known carriers of salmonella and listeria which can cause serious illness, especially to vulnerable people such as children, the elderly, immunocompromised and those who are pregnant.
The mouse droppings found in The Richmond Tavern on Church Road in Wavertree (Image: Liverpool City Council)
Liverpool City Council said there was also a lack of regular cleaning behind cooking equipment resulting in a build of dirt, debris and grease, inaccurate records and a failure to follow pest control advice.
During the closure period a total of 20 mice were caught by the business, which confirmed there was a high level of rodent activity in the premises.
After the premises carried out remedial works, environmental health officers revisited and agreed that the pub and restaurant could reopen.
The mouse droppings found in The Richmond Tavern on Church Road in Wavertree (Image: Liverpool City Council)
It was subsequently awarded a five star hygiene rating following a further inspection in July last year.
At Sefton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 25, pub operators Mitchells and Butler Leisure Retail Ltd were fined £22,000 with costs of £7,702.35 after pleading guilty to a breach of food safety and hygiene regulations.
The pub has since undergone complete transformation and opened earlier this month.
The mouse droppings found in The Richmond Tavern on Church Road in Wavertree (Image: Liverpool City Council)
Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, cabinet member for environmental health, said: “This case highlights the vital work of our environmental health team in keeping the public safe from falling ill due to poor hygiene in food establishments.
“People rightly expect that food they are having cooked for them and are paying for is safe from diseases such as salmonella and listeria.
“I am pleased that in this case the court has recognised the seriousness of the case, which will act as a deterrent for other businesses.
“It is also good to see that the premises did eventually take the matter seriously, resulting in a much-improved rating when they were reinspected.”