A firm has been handed a bill for almost £15,000 over filthy conditions in a Leeds pub it operated. Mitchells and Butlers Retail Ltd, which runs The Wellington public house on Wetherby Road, Leeds, pleaded guilty at Leeds Magistrates Court to three hygiene offences.
They relate to filthy conditions discovered during a routine food hygiene inspection on 18 September 2008 by Leeds City Council Environmental Health Officers.
The firm was fined £3,500 for failing to keep clean equipment and surfaces with which food comes into contact with, £2,000 for failing to keep clean the structure of the kitchen, servery and adjoining areas, and £2,000 for failing to provide soap and paper towels at the wash hand basin in the kitchen. The council was awarded full costs of £7,199 – making a total of £14,699.
The firm has apologised and acknowledged that conditions in the Wellington were poor, while magistrates acknowledged that more robust procedures had now been put in place by the company.
During their inspection, officers found deposits of grease, dirt and debris including food debris stuck to the walls, floor, wash hand basin and service pipes in the kitchen. There were deposits of dried blood spillage on the floor of the walk in chiller and the remains of a crushed beetle on the floor.
The floor, work surfaces and cupboards in the carvery area had deposits of dirt, dust and debris adhered to them. The surfaces and base supports of the carvery unit had accumulations of grease and dirt on them. Some of the metal lids to the serving dishes had deposits of old food stuck to the parts of their surfaces that are placed above food.
Other equipment was found to be dirty including the ice machine, which accumulated material consistent with mould growth on its inner surfaces. A chopping board used for cutting potatoes, lettuce and tomatoes had a scored and dirty surface.
At the time of the inspection there was no soap or paper towels at the wash hand basin in the kitchen. The outside store was very dirty and items of food, including a Yorkshire pudding, onions and potatoes, were found on the floor.
Councillor James Monaghan, Leeds City Council's executive board member for environmental health, said: "When people visit a pub or restaurant in Leeds they expect the highest standards of cleanliness from those preparing their food.
"In this case, it's clear there was a significant problem at this pub and the size of the fine handed down to the owners reflects that.
"The majority of restaurant and pub owners keep things clean but we will always take action where we find unacceptable conditions."
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