Huge fine for Hunstanton fish and chip shop which failed to keep food premises clean

The owner of a fish and chip shop in Hunstanton has been prohibited from running a food business and fined nearly £50,000 for failing to comply with food hygiene regulations.

King's Lynn Magistrates heard Richard Andrew Buck of Shoreside fish and chip shop, 8 Le Strange Terrace, was fined a total of £48,782.47 despite receiving advice and warnings to improve by the borough council.

A total of 14 offences were heard by the court including failure to keep food premises clean, inadequate hand washing materials and failure to keep ingredients in contamination-free conditions.

The shop was also found to be guilty of inadequate levels of personal hygiene, failure to ensure staff are suitably trained and poor storage and waste disposal.

Councillor Adrian Lawrence, Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk cabinet member for Housing and Community said: "The vast majority of food premises in the area are rated good, which is excellent for the borough.

"Our environmental health officers at the council are always keen to provide advice and support to businesses so that they can comply with all the necessary regulations.

"Where a business ignores the advice and continues failing to comply, we have to take action to protect the public. In this instance, repeated advice did not result in any improvement.

"Instead, officers witnessed a deterioration in hygiene standards at the premises.

"I am pleased with the outcome of this case and hope it serves to warn other food businesses that they must adhere to food hygiene regulations. A good hygiene rating is great for business."

The defendant was handed a £170 victim surcharge in addition to costs of £3612.47.