A restaurant in Prestbury has been fined after breaking food hygiene laws.
Nice Food and Bar, in the Village, was taken to court after a council inspection found conditions in the kitchen were not up to scratch. It is now closed.
The owners, Bradonstar Ltd, had an improvement notice served on them in October 2010 and they were cautioned in March this year were for failing to comply with the notice.
Sheela Dutton, prosecuting for Cheshire East council, said a further inspection later that month found:
- A tray of cracked, broken and dripping eggs being stored above a tray of open cheeses;
- Raw chicken being stored next to ready-to-eat meats such as chorizo and black pudding;
- Food stored past its ‘use by’ date;
- Broken stone slabs in the pizza oven;
- Bags of potatoes and frozen chips kept on the floor;
- Inadequate pest control.
Bradonstar, based on Altrincham Road, Styal, admitted not having a food safety management system at Macclesfield magistrates’ court.
Xavier Patterson, defending: "It is sad for my clients to find themselves in this position and they apologise for it.
"They employed chefs believed to be qualified, but given the way the kitchen was being run, it’s highly likely they didn’t have the relevant hygiene certificates. This is an embarrassment for them and the damage done to their business is greater than any financial penalty."
He said the ready-to-eat meats were to be cooked and that the out-of-date food was brought in by staff for their own consumption.
The bar is currently closed and a sign in the window says ‘Nice is currently closed for a staff summer holiday for August’.
But Mr Patterson told the court: "This has been losing money for some considerable amount of time. It was cheaper to close the premises than to keep it open, which is why they have taken that step."
The firm was fined £3,300 and ordered to pay costs of £1, 761.64 with a £15 victim surcharge.
