Restaurant director fined £30,000 after dead mice, droppings and rotting food discovered at pizza outlet

A restaurant director in North London has been fined £30,000 and banned from operating a food business after inspectors discovered dead mice, droppings and rotting food at the pizza franchise he oversaw

Waltham Forest Council officers visited Francos Pizza at 64 Hoe Street in Walthamstow in April 2018 (and again in September 2018), discovering the appalling conditions.

As the Thames Magistrates' Court heard last month, the director continued to operate after dissolving the business, failed to appear in court three times, then, in 2021, opened a Pizza GoGo franchise in the space next door.

'brazen disregard for the health and safety of his customers'

Director Sher Shah was charged on five counts - two counts of failing to ensure the premises were kept in clean condition and good repair; two counts of failing to put adequate procedures in place to control pests and one count of failing to provide adequate provisions for the storage and disposal of food waste - and ordered to pay almost £30,000 by the court.

Futhermore, a Hygiene Prohibition Order was issued, preventing him from managing any food service until further direction from the court.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, the deputy leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: “This ruling demonstrates the magistrate’s zero tolerance towards anyone attempting to evade justice.

"That Mr Shah subsequently opened a second pizzeria next door to the first speaks to his brazen disregard for the health and safety of his customers. It’s not often we see hygiene breaches as egregious as this and it’s satisfying to know we played our part as a Local Authority in removing this risk to the public.”