A Cardiff restaurant has been hit with fines totalling £16,000 after inspectors discovered an active mice infestation and multiple food hygiene violations.
Lake Spice
Curry House, located on Lake Road West in Cyncoed, and its owner, Mamun Miah,
faced prosecution for failing to control the infestation and maintain proper
hygiene standards.
The issues
came to light during an inspection by Food Hygiene Inspectors from Shared
Regulatory Services on September 21st, 2023.
Inspectors
found that the storage facilities were infested with mice, and the restaurant's
layout, design, construction, siting, and size were inadequate for maintaining
good hygiene practices.
Additionally,
the premises were not clean or well-maintained.
Mr. Miah
pleaded guilty to all charges at Cardiff Magistrates Court on March 19th, 2025.
His lawyer argued in mitigation that there was no contamination in the food or
food preparation areas, only in the storage areas, and that efforts were made
to limit pest activity, but these fell short of requirements.
Cllr Norma
Mackie, Cabinet Member for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council,
emphasized the importance of food hygiene for public safety, saying, “The
extent of pests at this business was considerable, and the efforts taken by the
defendant to deal with the problem were limited. Much more should have and
could have been done to remedy the failures.”
The judge
noted that profit was being prioritized over safety, which could have had
serious implications for customers' health. He warned that if Mr. Miah is
summoned before the court again for similar offences, an immediate prison
sentence would be appropriate.
Lakeside
Restaurant Limited was fined £10,000, ordered to pay £877 in costs, and a
£2,000 Victim Surcharge. Mamun Miah was fined £2,000, ordered to pay £877 in
costs, with a £500 Victim Surcharge.