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16.
January
2018.
“A horrendously dirty restaurant”

Tony's Kitchen Gallery on Whitchurch Road, Gabalfa, has been fined £3,200 for a string of food hygiene offences including mouse droppings that were found in the kitchen.

The case was heard at Cardiff Magistrates' Court last Thursday (January 11th) by District Judge Bodfan Jenkins, who when summing up the case described the business as a "horrendously dirty restaurant."

Council officers from the Shared Regulatory Service between Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Councils first visited Tony's Kitchen Gallery in November 2016 and again in May 2017 to find that the restaurant didn't have a food safety management system in place and pest control measures were ineffective.

On both occasions the company agreed to close the restaurant until essential cleaning was carried out and pest control measures were put in place.

Despite the advice given, the business continued to fail and the owner admitted in court that ‘they didn't have the money to implement the repairs to the building or prevent the pest infestation.'

The company director - Mrs Sinha from Whitchurch Road, Gabalfa - apologised to the court and admitted that the business had "gone downhill since 2014 and business hadn't picked up" and due to a number of personal reasons the "overall condition of the premises had declined".

After reviewing the company accounts it became clear that the company had no assets and the company director was living on tax credits.

The company was fined a total of £3,200, ordered to pay costs of £1,660 and a victim surcharge of £40. Due to the company's poor finances, payment was set at a rate of £20 a week so it will take the company director nearly five years to pay in the amount owed in full.

Cllr Michael Michael, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council thanked all the staff that has been involved in this case.

Cllr Michael said: "All businesses have a duty to ensure they comply with legislation. It is disappointing that despite all the help and assistance offered, the company chose to continue operating in a substandard way. In these circumstancesaction will be taken against any businesses that are found to be falling below the required standards and our record on taking these cases to court is excellent."