A Leicester pub has closed its doors after inspectors found “extensive” evidence of rat activity that posed an “imminent risk” to the public.
Four Four One, in the city’s Cavendish Road, was given a zero hygiene rating – the lowest possible – by Leicester City Council’s food hygiene team following an inspection on June 18.
As a result of “extensive” rat activity, food hygiene bosses agreed a voluntary closure of Four Four One due to “it posing an imminent risk to public health”, according to a report seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Inspectors found evidence of rat droppings throughout the kitchen, cellar, and washing-up areas, as well as “gnawed” items.
The city’s food hygiene team also found a drum of oil that rodents had chewed through, allowing oil to leak onto the kitchen floor.
The pub also had “a large gap” under the door to the rear garden, according to the report, which could have been “allowing pests to gain entry to the building”.
Food hygiene chiefs ordered pub bosses to clean the rat droppings and call in a pest contractor immediately.
There were also major cleaning concerns from inspectors, who found “dirty” refrigerators and seals, as well as “dirty” walls around the food preparation and wash-up areas, prompting food hygiene inspectors to order a deep clean.
They also found that a floor covering in the kitchen and washing-up area was “dirty”, whilst the extractor canopy and filters were also “greasy”.
It didn’t stop there because despite inspectors ordering a deep clean of areas of the pub, it was also noted that there were “inadequate facilities for cleaning and disinfecting work tools and equipment”.
Inspectors also found some worrying food hygiene and safety concerns, including high-risk food items being “left to cool at room temperature in the kitchen” which allowed “ideal conditions for food poisoning bacteria to grow”.
Pub bosses were also told to get rid of chopping boards in the kitchen due to them being “stained” and “badly scored”, including packets of dry goods being left open and in the kitchen and storage area.
Daily checks of chilled food temperatures and hot-held food were also not being carried out according to the report, and there was no written record of the food safety procedures – which inspectors said was a repeating problem.
Not long after the closure, Four Four One announced on Instagram that it would permanently close its Cavendish Road premises, with July 5 as its last day there.
Four Four One were approached for comment but did not reply in time for publication.
By Chris Harper (Local Democracy Reporter)
