Takeaway closed after council discovers mice infestation

Shropshire Council issued a hygiene emergency closure notice on a takeaway restaurant in Market Drayton after officers found an infestation of mice in the food preparation and storage areas.  

The notice was served on the Drayton House takeaway in Sherwood Crescent after the Council’s environmental health officers carried out a routine food hygiene inspection at the takeaway.  

They found an infestation of mice in the food preparation and storage areas and poor cleaning standards in the premises and used food hygiene powers to serve the notice, forcing immediate closure on Thursday, 10 June. 

The notice was then brought to Telford Magistrates Court on Monday, 14 June, whcih made a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order.  

This meant that the premises had to remain closed until work to bring the premises and hygiene practices up to a satisfactory standard were complete. The work has been carried out and the business has reopened. 

The takeaway was also ordered to pay £1,116.25 costs by the court.  

Councillor Dean Carroll, Portfolio Holder for Public Health, said:  

“Our Regulatory Services team worked with the business to make the necessary improvements and the order was lifted after suitable checks were carried out. 

“Every year our inspectors make hundreds of food hygiene inspections visits to premises that handle and serve food, because the public want to have confidence and reassurance that where they buy food from meet the standards expected. 

“These inspections and the latest ratings are regularly published here. I’m delighted that many of the county’s food businesses meet the highest 5-star standard. But when we find problems, the public rightly expect us to act.  

“The public in Shropshire expect that, wherever they choose to eat, whether eat-in or take-out, that food is stored, handled and prepared safely and hygienically.”