A restaurant in the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre has been fined after inspectors found an “infestation” of cockroaches and dirty kitchen equipment.
Shamim Uddin, who manages to Castle Brasserie, appeared at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court on June 8.
Uddin was made to pay £3,476.40 after pleading guilty to contravening Trading Standards regulations.
An investigation by Southwark Council found that Uddin had hired staff who were not sufficiently trained, while keeping dirty food-preparation areas with dirty and greasy utensils. There were also areas of the restaurant having structural disrepair, and it was found that Uddin had failed to act on an infestation of cockroaches.
The council’s investigation was triggered after it received complaints about the lack of pest control from customers last year. The Castle Brassiere was forced to close for three days to carry out improvements.
Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for communities and safety, said: “I hope all businesses take notice of the consequences of flouting food safety regulations and our commitment to enforcing against irresponsible business owners.”