Blackpool restaurant pleads guilty to 10 food hygiene offences

29th March 2010, 10:23am

A Blackpool restaurant owner has recently pleaded guilty to 10 food hygiene offences at Blackpool Magistrates Court.

Environmental health officers from Blackpool Council's food control section inspected the Blackpool Taj on Bond Street last year as part of a routine inspection.  Officers were shocked at the poor level of cleanliness and structural repair.  The kitchen floor was littered with food debris and dirt and had obviously not been cleaned in some time. 

Hot cupboards were thick with grease, chopping boards were worn and mouldy and microwaves were filthy.  In the back storeroom rainwater was pouring down the corner of the room along the outside of a drainage pipe close to open boxes of food.  Tiles were missing from the kitchen walls and various holes in the structure provided potential pest entry points.

Business owner Mr Salim Jangarwala had been warned about poor levels of cleanliness during previous inspections.  In court Mr Jangarwala pleaded guilty to 10 offences and was fined £1,000 and £200 costs.  He was also ordered to pay the £15 victim's surcharge. Mr Jangarwala explained that the business is now closed and up for sale.

Head of quality standards at Blackpool Council, Tim Coglan, commented: "This case demonstrates how Blackpool Council will not allow businesses to continually flout the law. If an educational approach fails, officers will take enforcement action to ensure compliance with legislation." 

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