Bosses at a Stourbridge hotel have landed a court bill of more than £30,000 after a string of hygiene offences and claims of a rat in the bar area.
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Talbot Hotel, in High Street, Stourbridge, admitted 10 offences before Dudley magistrates on Thursday (December 12).
Dudley Council environment officers visited the site in October after a visitor complained they had spotted a rat in the bar area. The court also heard the firm hadn’t got adequate controls to tackle pests or a system to protect food from contamination.
They were also accused of failing to keep equipment clean and maintaining hand washing materials, as well as keeping walls and work surfaces clean.
The business was immediately closed down while staff addressed all the problems, and was allowed to reopen later the same month. It followed a routine visit to the premises in September 2011 which also found hygiene issues which needed to be addressed by staff.
Magistrates fined the company £2,750 for each of the 10 offences they admitted, as well as £2,461 costs. They were also ordered to pay £120 victim surcharge.
Councillor Stuart Turner, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said:
“We work hard to protect people when visiting food establishments and prosecute businesses who break the law.
“I hope this court case sends out a clear message that we will work with firms to remind them of their obligation to maintain hygiene standards, but ultimately take action through the courts to protect the public.”
The firm was charged with 10 offences under the Regulation EC 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs.
