Dirty pub kitchen shut down

The kitchen of a Leicestershire pub that posed "an imminent risk to health" has been shut down by magistrates.

The Royalist in Western Avenue, Market Harborough, was forced to stop selling food after environmental health officers (EHO) sought an emergency order to protect public health.

A routine inspection of the pub's kitchen by EHOs from Harborough District Council discovered mouldy food, insects and ants, dirty tea towels and sticky floors.

Now the pub cannot sell food until it has passed a further EHO inspection.

Stefan Wietrzyk, the licensee at the Royalist claimed the kitchen had already been closed for a clean-up before the EHOs arrived. "Since the inspection we have cleaned it up," he added.

The emergency order to shut the kitchens was passed at Harborough Magistrates Court on August 24. At the court hearing senior EHO Joanne Moore said: "This was the filthiest kitchen I have seen in a long time."

The council has not decided whether to prosecute Mr Wietrzyk.