Fines of more than £22,000 after cockroach infestation uncovered at restaurant

A tandoori restaurant in Harlington in London and its manager have been ordered to pay fines totalling £22,498.75 after an investigation discovered a significant infestation of hundreds of cockroaches.

Harlington Tandoori, trading under Heathrow Tandoori Limited, and its manager Joshua Money, 31, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 28 January, where Money pleaded guilty to seven offences of failing to comply with food safety and hygiene regulations.  

On 28 September 2023, council food hygiene and safety officers carried out an unannounced inspection after a customer reported that a cockroach crawled across their table, the court was told.  

Officers found hundreds of cockroaches throughout the restaurant, including in the bar, main kitchen and external stockroom, as well as dirty cooking equipment and unlabelled prepared food.

Given the significant infestation, Money agreed to close the restaurant with immediate effect.  

Despite a specialist contractor being brought in to deal with the infestation and the premises being given the green light to reopen on 24 October 2023, officers witnessed a range of hygiene offences during several site inspections, which resulted in two hygiene improvement notices being served at the premises on 13 December 2023.  

On 20 February 2024, a further visit was undertaken to check compliance, which showed that while there had been some improvements, there were still failings.   

For failing to adequately manage food safety and hygiene, Money was fined £512 and ordered to pay a £205 victim surcharge and the council’s prosecution costs of £1,890, totalling £2,607.  

He was also handed a hygiene prohibition order, preventing him from participating in the management of a food business for 18 months.  

Heathrow Tandoori Limited, was also fined £16,000 and ordered to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and costs of £1,891.75, totalling £19,891.75.  

The business was previously convicted in November 2018 and fined £4,933 for similar failings to prevent pests (rats and cockroaches) and maintain clean premises and hygiene standards. 

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s cabinet member for community and environment, said: “This is a shocking case, where despite a previous conviction and multiple improvement notices, this restaurant consistently failed to uphold basic standards of cleanliness, putting residents’ health and safety at a high risk, and as a consequence they must now pay the price for their actions. 

“I hope it serves as a strong warning to other businesses that neglecting food hygiene and training will not be tolerated.”

Photo: Harlington Tandoori/Google