Coventry takeaway named and shamed after cockroach and rat infestations found

Cockraoach and rat infestations have been found at a Coventry takeaway. Filthy conditions were discovered at Peri Peri Original after visits by food and safety officers, it has today emerged.

They went to the business on Carter Road in February 2022 after a complaint from a member of the public who was concerned they had seen a live cockroach when ordering some food. During the visit, officers found a "significant cockroach infestation".

Coventry City Council say the premises were also found to be "in a very dirty condition with rat activity in the yard area where some food was being stored and prepared". The premises were "closed voluntarily" while improvements were made and the cockroach and rat infestations were treated.

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But the story didn't end there, even though the business was allowed to reopen three weeks later. During a further unannounced complaint visit in August 2022, further evidence of cockroaches was found and the premises were shut voluntarily again.

Now the food business has been fined a total of £6,326.34 after pleading guilty to food hygiene offences. Mr Abid Hussain was the sole trader and the food business operator of the business Peri Peri Original, 6-8 Carter Road, Coventry, CV3 1BX at the time of the earlier hygiene offences that took place in February 2022.

Aribah Ltd, which took over the business, was the food business operator at the time of the later hygiene offences in August 2022. Mr Hussain was the director of Aribah Ltd at this time.

Mr Hussain pleaded guilty to all charges, in his capacity as an individual and in his capacity as a director of the company, at Coventry Magistrates Court on April 22 2024. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay full investigation costs of £2426.34 and a victim surcharge of £100.00.

Aribah Ltd was separately fined £2,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £800.00.

Peri Peri Original's food hygiene rating after the incidents

The council says that after the second incident, the business "undertook the required work" and then was able to reopen when the risk to health had been removed. They say that when questioned about the poor conditions found, Mr Hussain said he "hadn’t been at the premises regularly in the weeks beforehand due to personal reasons."

Both Mr Hussain and Aribah Ltd admitted:

• Failure to put in place adequate procedures to control pests

• Failure to keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition

• Failure to put in place, implement and maintain procedure or procedures based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Controls

• Failure to ensure the construction of the premises permitted good hygiene practices, in particular, pest control

The council says that the premises remain "subject to routine unannounced inspections by the food and safety team". It is currently rated a 3 (Generally Satisfactory) on the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

The council said after the case: "The council always tries to work with businesses offering advice and guidance where possible but will take the necessary actions if they feel there is a risk to health. In this instance, the seriousness of the findings resulted in the need to close the business until the risk to health was removed. It is vital that people running food businesses in Coventry have adequate procedures in place to ensure the safety of the food they sell at all times.”

Davina Blackburn, Strategic Lead for Regulation in the city, said: “We take a staged approach to enforcement wherever possible, but the conditions found here required immediate action. It was disappointing to find that the conditions were found to have deteriorated again at the business and the fine given reflects this.

“Food hygiene offence is a serious matter and the courts have sent out a strong message that formal action will be taken where necessary. We would encourage all residents to report unsatisfactory food hygiene conditions found in food businesses in Coventry to ehcommercial@coventry.gov.uk or call 08085834333”.

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