During a routine inspection, Birmingham City Council’s environmental health officers found a live mouse caught on a sticky board trap at the Golden Kitchen Chinese takeaway in Ermington Way, Sutton Coldfield. The inspection took place in May last year and revealed widespread mouse droppings scattered across multiple areas, including food preparation areas, storage spaces, food packaging, floors, shelving, and equipment used for food preparation.
This inspection was the first conducted since GK Chinese Ltd took ownership of the premises just weeks prior, having registered the company in February 2025. Despite the serious findings, no representatives from GK Chinese Ltd attended the hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, 27 August, resulting in the case being proved in their absence.
Kate Simms, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council, informed magistrates that the conditions found constituted an imminent risk to public health due to inadequate pest control procedures. Consequently, a hygiene emergency prohibition notice was issued, necessitating the closure of the takeaway until appropriate remedial actions were undertaken.
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Officers returned to Golden Kitchen two days after closure, on 23 May, and observed that a thorough cleaning and pest treatment had been completed. The council subsequently lifted the prohibition notice, permitting the establishment to reopen as it was no longer considered a health risk.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £3,000 on GK Chinese Ltd for breaching the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013. Additionally, the company was ordered to pay a £1,200 surcharge along with prosecution costs amounting to £1,591.35.
This case underscores the importance of maintaining stringent hygiene standards and effective pest control measures, particularly following new ownership of food premises.