Dirty kitchens and poor food hygiene has cost the Bengal Lounge, the town’s only Indian restaurant, over £8,000 in fines and costs after council health officials prosecuted it.
Taunton magistrates heard that the curry house, at the top of North St, had six offences on the charge sheet; failing to keep the premises clean; failing to ensure that items which food comes in to contact with were effectively cleaned; and failing to have food safety programmes and procedures implemented and maintained at the premises ,
Adnan Hussain, of the Bengal Lounge, was fined a total of £4,800 – £800 for each offence – and ordered to pay costs totalling £3,660 plus a £15 victim surcharge.
“We have new management and new chef now. Everything will be better,” said a spokesman, who didn’t wish to be named, at the Bengal Lounge. The restaurant was completely empty.
“Our officers work closely with businesses to provide advice and guidance but we will not hesitate to take action if advice is ignored. Our duty is to protect the public,” said Cllr Ken Hayward, who holds Taunton Deane Borough Council’s environmental services brief.
In Wellington customer opinion on the restaurant seems divided. “We’ve had meals there for years and have always been satisfied,” said Gill Paltridge. “This is really disappointing for regular customers.”
But others haven’t been so fortunate. “I’ve only eaten there once and I was violently ill for days afterwards,” commented George Wheatley, a regular visitor to the town.
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