Leasowe Castle hotel has been found to have a pest problem, with management being found to do nothing to resolve the issues.
In a damning food hygiene report, Wirral Council found the kitchen of the hotel had an ongoing pest problem. Despite it being known there was an issue, the report states management did nothing to resolve the issues.
The report opened by explaining the hotel scored the lowest mark possible and requires urgent improvement. The report said: "At the time of the inspection on Monday 12th December 2022, there was evidence of widespread activity of mice throughout the food business; under and behind equipment and on shelves where food and food equipment were being stored, in food equipment boxes, and next to takeaway packaging, in food items such as pastry cases, in pans, next to bowls, plates, on cloths used for cleaning, next to blue roll used for cleaning and hand drying and next to clingfilm and foil used to cover open foods."
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A spokesperson for the Leasowe Castle Hotel said all the required actions were completed on 15 December 2022.
The report also states that management failed to take action following the mice problem being raised. The report continued: "You have stated that you were aware of the ongoing pest problem, especially in the dry store area and that this had been escalated to management, but no action had been taken.
"Droppings were evident on the floor and on both high- and low-level shelving in the main kitchen area, shelving in the rear storage area, behind fridges and freezers and next to takeaway packaging, on cloths used for cleaning in the coffee area, in food equipment boxes in the main kitchen and on shelving where food was stored, inside food items such the pastry cake cases mentioned earlier in this letter and in trays that contained ramekins that were ready for use with ready to eat foods.
"It is unclear why these had not been cleared away or why you had not continued to clean the affected areas when you were aware there was an ongoing problem."
Despite the continued pest problem, the hotel has been allowed to remain open under conditions such as clearing dropping and dead mice away, regularly cleaning food premises and carrying out regular checks to look for evidence of pests.
Leasowe Castle Hotel said: "On 15 December all requests and recommendations were completed. The hotel and all food areas continued to operate without restrictions.
"17 January 2023 Food rating report issued. However, the report was issued based on the 12 December inspection not the 15 December works completion date. Once the report was published the operator has now two ways to proceed which could not have been done prior to the report publication.
"A) The operator has a right to reply to the report. The right to reply was completed and sent to Wirral Council on 26 January 2023.
"B) The right to reply included the information about all the works that have been carried out. The EHO needs to review these and attach it alongside the report of 12 December 2022 on the Food Standards Agency public record showing that the works have been completed as requested. The EHO is aware that these works were completed on 15 December 2022.
"Control and planning measures included the appointment of a new Head Chef and team to implement these changes. Hotel staff and management believe and are confident in their ability to manage and control all food and hygiene operations and that there is no ongoing risk as daily monitoring and control plans are in place in regard to all issues of food safety and hygiene.
"To re-iterate all the required action was done on 15 December 2022. For information, an independent third-party audit and monitoring contractor has confirmed that there is 'no pest activity reported' effective 24 January 2023 on our premises. However, while all works have been completed and ongoing monitoring and protections are in place on our premises, the contractor has indicated that there is the possibility of ongoing risk that activity from pests nesting in burrows on adjoining Leasowe Golf Course land could migrate to our premises.
"Management has written to Leasowe Golf Course setting out the investigation report and they have been requested to take immediate action to remedy the problem and in order to let them know their obligations and responsibilities under the legal requirements to deal with the issues on their land."
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