A Tottenham restaurant was so infested with rats and mice that when Haringey Council officers and police paid a surprise visit, the staff ran away.
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Gazali at 105 Bruce Grove, Tottenham, London, N17, was subject to an Emergency Closure by council Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) earlier this month after they found the place was a risk to health.
The spot inspection, which involved EHOs, Neighbourhood Action Officers and the Safer Neighbourhood Team, found a rodent infestation, rat and mice droppings, shredded nesting materials in the kitchen areas, high risk foods stored in a faulty chiller and dirty surfaces.
The staff were also unaware of safe food handling practices.
When the officers explained to staff that they were going to close the restaurant down, the staff deserted the shop.
Cllr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said:
“This place was filthy and an imminent risk to health. We can only speculate as to why staff ran away but this inspection may have saved many people from serious food poisoning.
“This was a real team effort and has helped clear Bruce Grove of the kind of shop we can well do without.”
The owner of the building was already in the process of taking back the shop from the restaurant owners and has since cleared and cleaned the building and had it treated for pests.
There are no current plans to let the shop.
