'Huge' food safety risk at Cornish pub
A Cornish pub which magistrates said posed a "huge public health risk" has been fined for breaches of food safety rules.
Licensee Adrian Olsen of the Tredrea Inn in Padstow, said the problems had been caused by staff cooking in the kitchen out-of-hours before a visit by environmental health officers (EHO) last October. He added that the pub's new chef has been "devastated" by the blow to his reputation caused by publicity over the case.
Mr Olsen pleaded guilty to three offences at Bodmin Magistrates Court. He was fined £2250, reduced from £3300 following the guilty pleas. Mr Olsen was also ordered to pay North Cornwall District Council's costs of £2500.
Officers from the council's food safety team who inspected the Tredrea Inn in October 2005 found what were described in court as 'filthy conditions' in the kitchen, as well as 'poor food safety practices' and 'no evidence' of Hazard Analysis. He was also charged with non compliance with an Improvement Notice served which required intermediate level food hygiene training at the pub.
Magistrates said "this was a very serious offence" which posed a "huge public health risk", adding that they were "appalled" by photographs of the premises submitted in evidence. They said Mr Olsen had been given "ample opportunity to resolve the problem but that the situation had not been taken seriously."
North Cornwall environmental health officer (EHO) Sally Glover, said: "The fines awarded by the magistrates reflect the seriousness of this case. We do try to work with businesses, but if they do not ensure public safety we will take the necessary formal action."
Mr Olsen said that he had worked closely with the previous EHO attached to the pub, and implemented a checklist of changes at the start of the peak holiday season last year. The problems has arisen after the summer, when food trade was much lower and staff had been using the kitchen out of hours. The employees concerened have since left the pub.
He said: "We have a fantastic new chef, and have had a good summer. A phone-in on the local radio didn't make it clear that that this all happened last year, and our chef is devastated, because it reflects on him. Our food trade was virtually zero over the weekend. We now have to work to rebuild the pub's reputation."
