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An Ampthill restaurant owner who ignored repeated warnings about the cleanliness of his business faces paying out more than £1,000.

Gerald D’Arcy, who owns Fajitas Mexican restaurant in Kings Arms Yard, admitted failing to supervise and maintain areas of his kitchen which were found to be dirty and needed cleaning, when he appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 23 October.

That followed a visit by Central Bedfordshire Council’s Public Protection team in September 2014.

Council officers highlighted a number of dirty and poorly maintained areas in the kitchen including the floor, cooker, the extract canopy, food service platters and shelving. There was also mould growth on the fridge seals.

Having been given credit for his guilty plea, D’Arcy was ordered to pay a fine of £230, costs of £770 and a victim surcharge of £21.

Ignored repeated advice

Councillor Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “Anyone going out for a meal rightly expects that where they will be eating – especially the kitchen – will be clean and properly run.

“That was not the case at Fajitas, and despite the owner being given repeated advice and guidance over several years to improve standards, he failed to do so.

“Prosecution is always a last resort for the council, as we would rather work with businesses to help them improve. However, that was impossible in this case which is why the owner now faces damage to both his wallet and his restaurant’s reputation.”

For more information about food hygiene, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/local-business. And to check a venue’s food hygiene score, visit ratings.food.gov.uk 

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