Safety 'clearly disregarded' as dead mouse was found at Clough Manor

A dead mouse was found in a food storage area at a hotel, a court heard.

Environmental Health officers made the discovery during a routine food hygiene inspection at Clough Manor, Rochdale Road in Denshaw.

During the visit in February this year, officers found a number of issues that breached food hygiene laws.

Cobwebs, dirt, dust, food debris and grease were found in the kitchen, bar and pot wash areas and there were inadequate pest control measures in place.

A range of out of date food, including smoked salmon – gone off by nearly two months – cheese, yoghurts, sausages and pepperoni was also found in the food preparation area.

On November 21 at Tameside Magistrates’ Court, Clough North, trading as Clough Manor, was found guilty of 19 offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, Regulation 19.

The company was not represented in court but was fined a total of £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,250 plus a victim surcharge of £170.

The venue is no longer open for business.

Councillor Arooj Shah, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “The owners of this venue clearly disregarded the safety of residents and visitors, potentially putting their health at risk.

“When people visit venues that serve food they should be safe in the knowledge that it’s been prepared in a clean kitchen.

“We are continually carrying out food hygiene visits to make sure businesses are selling food from clean premises. If they aren’t operating within the law then we will not hesitate to take action against them.”

All food businesses inspected by the council are given a rating based on their compliance with the legal requirements for hygiene, structural condition and confidence in the management.

Following a food hygiene inspection a business is rated from five for a very good through to zero for those premises that need to improve urgently.

It is voluntary for the businesses to display the rating but gives the consumer an indication of its overall level of food hygiene compliance.

All Oldham food business ratings are on the Food Standards Agency website: http://ratings.food.gov.uk/QuickSearch.aspx

Consumers are urged to check food hygiene ratings before they eat out or order meals online.  

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