The operator of Best In Late Shop on Atwell Street has been ordered to pay over £13,000 after pleading guilty to breaking hygiene regulations.
Liverpool City Council took Freshone Ltd. to Liverpool Magistrates Court last week (27 November) for five breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations.
Environmental Health Officers from the Council first visited the shop in October 2024, following a complaint of a mouse sighting, and they found that the premises was infested with the rodents.
During the inspection, they found clear and concerning signs of inadequate pest control. There were mouse droppings found throughout the shop, including on the display shelving storing food and on floor surfaces.
Mice had gnawed foods and packets that were on sale to customers, including crisps and chocolates, while a dead mouse was also found under a freezer.
The court heard that conditions were so unhygienic that the shop was immediately shut down because they presented an ‘imminent risk to health’. It was also awarded the lowest food hygiene rating of zero.
Following on from the guilty plea, Freshone Ltd. was fined £5,334, plus a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £5,694.55 awarded to the Council.
During its enforced closure, the business caught over 55 mice.
Best In Late Shop was allowed to reopen following a second inspection, which saw significant improvements. In May this year, it was inspected once again and awarded a food hygiene rating of five.
Liverpool City Council’s Environmental Health service operates the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. The public can check the food hygiene rating of most food business in Liverpool by visiting www.food.gov.uk/ratings.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture said: “The conditions in Best In Late Shop when our Environmental Health Officers visited were truly horrific.
“We take food hygiene and safety extremely seriously and this goes to show that we will take definitive action if a business fails to meet its legal requirements.
“What is pleasing to see is that the business has owned up to its mistakes and has used our recommendations to fully turn things around, which is ultimately what we would want to see happen.
“Of course, we shouldn’t see something like this happen in the first place, which is why businesses should be closely following hygiene guidelines at all times.”
