Rats and mice at city coffee shop
March 11, 2009
TWO Coventry eateries have been slapped with hefty fines after failing hygiene inspections.
Matin Coffee Shop in Foleshill Road was ordered to pay £5,681 and MYO Restaurant in Hales Street landed a £3,530 bill.
Magistrates heard how the Coventry City Council Food Safety Team discovered mouse droppings on worktops and rat droppings in a storage room at Matin Coffee Shop on January 24 last year.
The business was closed while a pest contractor was brought to clear the infestation.
Former owner Sarko Ahmed admitted five food safety offences. He was fined £4,100 and told to pay £1,566 costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.
The court also heard how the Food Safety Team made a surprise inspection of MYO Restaurant on July 30 last year.
The restaurant admitted two food safety offences and was fined £1,500 for each.
Bosses were also told to pay £515 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Cllr Hazel Noonan, cabinet member for city services, said: "The Food Safety Team carry out a really important job, protecting us all against food poisoning by constantly monitoring the business in the city.
"Because they arrive unannounced, we can be sure that we are seeing businesses as they really are and not the image they perhaps want customers to see.
"Members of the pubic can continue to eat out with confidence in our city, knowing that the occasional problem premises are always found and problems sorted out promptly."
