Inspectors visiting the branch in Ponders End High Street discovered evidence of rats, inadequate pest proofing and lack of cleanliness

Rat droppings pictured at Pizza Hut in Ponders End (credit Enfield Council/Google)

A Pizza Hut franchisee in Ponders End has been fined more than £30,000 over a rat infestation and “lack of cleanliness”.

The franchisee of Pizza Hut at 164-166 Ponders End High Street was fined for breaching food safety and hygiene regulations after Enfield Council’s environmental health food safety team made a routine visit to the premises on 14th October 2022, where they discovered evidence of a rat infestation and droppings, food products damaged by rats, inadequate pest proofing and a lack of cleanliness.

The sole company director of Exultant Limited, Mizan Syed, who is the franchisee at the Pizza Hut takeaway, immediately and voluntarily closed the premises due to an imminent risk to public health.

Subsequent visits to the Pizza Hut by the council’s officers found inadequate cleaning practices throughout the premises, including an accumulation of debris under appliances, shelving and inadequate cleaning of food preparation surfaces.

The premises was given a one star food hygiene rating at the time of its closure. However, it later reopened and, at an inspection last month, the Pizza Hut branch was rated with three stars.

At an initial court hearing on 7th December 2023 at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, Exultant Limited pleaded guilty to all charges. Syed, from High Wycombe, pleaded not guilty. At the conclusion of the case in September, the district judge found Syed guilty of all charges.

Exultant Limited was fined £20,000 with costs of £1,258.41 while Syed was fined £2,000 with costs of £6,528.41 and a surcharge of £800. It made a combined total of £30,586.

A Pizza Hut spokesperson said: “At Pizza Hut, we take the health and safety of our customers and our restaurants very seriously and there are certain health and safety standards we expect all our huts to uphold. We are aware of this situation and we are in touch with the Pizza Hut in question.”

For further information on the council’s food hygiene inspections:
Visit enfield.gov.uk/services/environment/food-safety

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