LEYTONSTONE: "Filthy" restaurant told to close

8:55am Thursday 14th August 2008

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Rotting food, vermin infestation and filthy ovens are among a catalogue of failings at a Leytonstone restaurant, according to environmental health officers.

In an inspection of Chicken & Curries, High Road, Leytonstone, officers found cockroaches, mouse droppings, mould-covered chappatis and rancid chicken.

Giving evidence at Waltham Forest Magistrates' Court, environmental health officer Paul Magrath said: "On August 11, I inspected the premises on High Road, Leytonstone.

"I was accompanied by my colleague, Mrs Pip Broad, and we carried out an inspection in which we found a number of items including out-of-date and mouldy food and rancid chicken."

They also discovered cockroaches in food preparation areas, described as an "uncontrollable infestation", as well as unwashed chopping blocks causing cross contamination between meat and vegetables.

Dirty cloths were used for wiping surfaces and the oven appeared not to have been cleaned at all, according to officers.

Mr Magrath said: "These problems demonstrate a real lack of training and food hygiene awareness."

Raw chicken was also being stored with vegetables, causing a potential risk of salmonella and other food poisoning.

The restaurant's proprietors were then served an emergency prohibition notice and an emergency prohibition order has now been issued by magistrates.

This means that the restaurant will have to close down until the problems are resolved.