Restaurant pair fined for food offences

The former owners and operators of an Aylsham restaurant have been fined and banned from running any food business after admitting a number of serious food safety offences.

The former owners and operators of an Aylsham restaurant have been fined and banned from running any food business after admitting a number of serious food safety offences.

Father and daughter Geoff Brooke-Smith and Nicola Lloyd, who ran The Greens, were ordered by Cromer magistrates to pay fines and costs totalling �21,000 after they pleaded guilty to 13 charges.

They were prosecuted after a Broadland environmental health officer discovered 'appalling' conditions during an unannounced inspection in August last year.

A number of containers of rotting food, including salmon and ribs, were found in a food storage area and food equipment. Various parts of the premises were seen to be encrusted in dirt and food debris, presenting a 'significant health risk to customers'.

There were insufficient hand-washing facilities, a pool of dried blood was found at the bottom of a fridge and ovens were caked in dirt.

Roger Foulger, portfolio holder for housing and environmental services at Broadland, said: 'The council is committed to ensuring adequate standards of food safety in the district and I am extremely pleased with this result.

'The size of the fine and the issue of prohibition orders are commensurate with the unacceptable conditions at this restaurant.'

Andy Jarvis, head of environmental services at Broadland, said: 'The food safety team goes to considerable lengths to assist local businesses to understand their legal duties through the provision of advice and education.

'However, our graduated approach to enforcement means that we will take legal action where we find a serious risk to public health, as in this case where a restaurant providing 800 meals a week to the public was committing serious food safety offences.

'This case was about protecting the health of customers and sends a strong message to businesses that they must comply with food safety legislation.'

The Greens, in Norwich Road, has been under new management since November and is now owned by London-based Silver Fox. A company spokesman said Mr Brooke-Smith and Mrs Lloyd had not been involved for several months.

'These offences are historic. Customers were not at risk and have never been at risk.

'This is a new company that has not been prosecuted and won't be,' he said.

'We uphold the highest hygiene standards. Food labelling is something we take very seriously.'

He added that the restaurant had recently undergone a �500,000 refit, including new kitchens and bar

area.