Enfield Pizza Hut shut down after rats gnaw garlic dip and jalapeños

Rebecca McCulloch

21 November 2024 at 2:31 pm·2-min read

Pizza Hut is in conversation with the branch following the startling discovery — -Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)

Rats chewing on sauce pots and toppings have cost an Enfield Pizza Hut more than £30,000 in fines. An infestation was discovered at the Ponders End branch when the borough's council made a routine visit in October 2022.

Officers slapped franchisee owner Mizan Syed with a one-star hygiene rating after finding droppings, inadequate pest-proofing, and gnawed sauce pots and bags of toppings. Follow-up visits also uncovered poor cleaning practices, particularly in food preparation areas.

The High Street premises was voluntarily shut by Mr Syed immediately after the first inspection, with Enfield Council calling it 'an imminent risk to public health'. His company Exultant Limited pleaded guilty to all charges at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in December 2023.

Gnawed sauce pots and droppings were seen in the store room -Credit:Enfield Council

Despite being the sole company director of Exultant Limited, Mr Syed, of High Wycombe, pleaded not guilty - making an application of ‘no case to answer.’ However, the District Judge ultimately dismissed this and found him guilty of all charges.

The restaurant was fined a total of £30,586.52 for breaching food safety and hygiene regulations. Mr Syed was fined £2,000 with costs of £6,528.41 and a surcharge of £800, whilst Exultant Limited was told to pay £20,000 with costs of £1,258.41

A spokesperson for Pizza Hut said, “At Pizza Hut, we take the health and safety of our customers and our restaurants very seriously and there are certain health and safety standards we expect all our Huts to uphold. We are aware of this situation and we are in touch with the Pizza Hut in question”.

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