Popular pub infested with rats (From Daily Echo)
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Red Shoot Inn is fined £10,000 for 'rodent activity'
10:13am Friday 7th December 2012 in News
By Luke Tugby, Senior reporter
Popular pub infested with rats
A POPULAR Hampshire pub was forced to close its doors after food safety experts discovered a kitchen infested with rats, a court heard.
Bosses at The Red Shoot Inn, in the New Forest, shut down temporarily after inspectors found rat droppings in the kitchen during a routine spot-check.
Closer inspection of the venue in Toms Lane, Linwood, found that rats had gnawed potatoes, which had been stored in a cardboard box on the floor of the kitchen.
Evidence of “rodent activity” was also uncovered in an outside bottle storage shed, where it was found that drinks were not properly protected against potential pest contamination.
The pub’s operator, Wadworth and Company Ltd, closed the site following the damning inspection by New Forest District Council in May.
It has since re-opened after health officers were convinced that the premises had been adequately pest proofed and that any direct risk to the public had been removed.
A representative from Wadworth and Company Ltd, based in Devizes, Wiltshire, pleaded guilty to five food hygiene offences at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.
In sentencing the firm, magistrates said it had failed to follow its own food safety procedures and had they done so, the rat infestation could have been avoided.
Magistrates added that the offences posed a “serious health risk to the public” and fined the firm a total of £10,000 – £2,000 for each of the five charges.
The company was also ordered to pay £3,746 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
New Forest District Council’s environment boss Cllr Edward Heron said: “It is totally unacceptable to allow rats into a food business
“Environmental health officers took appropriate action to protect public health and I am pleased the serious nature of this offence was confirmed by the court.”
Comments(13)
Dasal
says...
10:35am Fri 7 Dec 12
Ummmmm....Gordon Ramsey ????
rich the stitch
says...
12:08pm Fri 7 Dec 12
I thought it was going to be a story about Yeates in Southampton and the people who drink there.
MGRA
says...
1:08pm Fri 7 Dec 12
100%HANTSBOY
says...
1:20pm Fri 7 Dec 12
MGRA wrote:Why?
The only way I would EVER eat in a pub is if the landlord let me inspect the kitchen before hand....
Big Mac
says...
1:51pm Fri 7 Dec 12
4 small courgettes
2 red or yellow peppers
4 large ripe tomatoes
5 tbsp olive oil
small bunch basil
1 medium onion
3 garlic cloves
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp sugar
1 medium rat
1 straw basket...
there you have it, Ratatouille in the basket!
Boatman
says...
2:17pm Fri 7 Dec 12
G0Rf wrote:The rats?
So who gets the £15 victim surcharge??
mack chinnon
says...
2:24pm Fri 7 Dec 12
nedscrumpo wrote:HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. Chines?
If it was a chines restaurant they could have been added to the menu!
Lockssmart
says...
6:29pm Fri 7 Dec 12
dolomiteman
says...
6:32pm Fri 7 Dec 12
G0Rf wrote:It goes into a seperate account for victims of crime when compensation has been awarded by the courts and the offender has no means to pay. Every court case that involves a fine will also have a 'victims surcharge' added.
So who gets the £15 victim surcharge??
mr.southampton
says...
9:12pm Fri 7 Dec 12
Super saint 1987
says...
10:35pm Fri 7 Dec 12
beiroot
says...
2:50pm Sat 8 Dec 12
G0Rf says...
10:22am Fri 7 Dec 12