London hotel investigated after mouse droppings found in kitchen
Part of the kitchen in a boutique London hotel visited by pop stars Harry Styles and Britney Spears was shut down after inspectors found mouse droppings, which the chef thought were spices.
The four-star Sanctum Soho Hotel near Carnaby Street was inspected in May 2015.
Mouse droppings were found on food containers, food preparation areas and a muslin cloth used to strain soup and squeeze lemons for the bar.
There was also a smell of mouse urine, Westminster magistrates’ court was told.
Sanctum London Limited and Concept Venue Limited, who run the hotel, admitted breaking food hygiene laws and will be sentenced at City of London magistrates’ court in September.
The court heard Westminster City Council environmental health officer Juliette Cooper temporarily shut part of the kitchen because of an immediate risk to public health.
"On the shelf of one of the food preparation tables, she saw droppings. She showed the chef and he said he thought they were spices," said the prosecutor.
The hotel closed part of the kitchen for a deep clean but it continued to serve food from the area of the kitchen that was not affected. The hotel itself remained open throughout.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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