Spirit pub fined £50K over sewage problem
A Spirit Group pub in Lincolnshire has been fined over £50,000 for remaining open despite raw sewage being found behind the bar.
The Gamekeeper, South Hykeham remained open from 5-7 October despite sewage overflowing from a backed-up sink behind the bar.
The pub was shut on 7 October following an inspection by environmental health officers from North Kesteven district council.
The pub remained closed until 11 November when it re-opened following a £150,000 refurbishment.
A Spirit Group spokeswoman said: "As a responsible operator, one of our key priorities is to ensure that we always deliver a high quality experience to our guests.
"We have comprehensive health and safety processes in place in all of our pubs to ensure that the highest standards are delivered.
"This was an isolated incident and subsequent action was taken to address the problem.
"Significant lessons have been learnt from this and we would like to stress that it is not representative of our commitment to our customers and the high standards delivered by our pub teams, all day, every day."
