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An
Edinburgh restaurant has been fined an unprecedented £18,000
after mouse droppings were found on dishes according to reports in
the Scottish press.
An
environmental health team found "filthy" conditions in the
kitchen at The Rainbow Arch earlier this year.
A cellar floor
was covered in wet mouldy cardboard and the inspection found "a
foul black substance resembling sewage debris".
Henry Tse
pleaded guilty to nine charges at the Morrison Street premises on
Friday at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Edinburgh City
Council inspectors also found an area used to cool food was close to
a courtyard infested with pigeons and a drain that had overflowed.
A rice steamer
was described as "filthy", knives were dirty, and food
serving bowls were contaminated with mouse droppings.
An Edinburgh
sheriff fined the firm £2,000 for each offence.
The restaurant
was closed for 24 hours following the visit by inspectors on 28
April.
A return visit
on 5 October again found problems with cleanliness and staff hygiene
and the premises were shut down for a second time, this time for a
week.
The restaurant
had previously been praised by TV chef Clarissa Dickson Wright, who
described it as her favourite Chinese restaurant in Edinburgh in a
newspaper column.
When informed
of the hygiene inspectors' reports by BBC Scotland, Ms Dickson Wright
declined to comment.
The Rainbow
Arch may face further criminal charges relating to the second visit,
Edinburgh City Council said.
Councillor
Sheila Gilmore, Edinburgh Council community safety leader, said:
"This case demonstrates that we will not hesitate to use our
powers to protect the public and to take action where it is
warranted.
"We are
grateful that the sheriff reflected the severity of the offence with
the fine imposed.
"We are
glad to say that the majority of food businesses in the city adhere
to the required food hygiene standards."
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