From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Lizzie Massey, 4 February 2014.
Ye Arrow pub in Rochester has re-opened after Medway Council inspectors
shut it down due to mouse infestation.
One of Rochester’s most popular pubs was given permission to reopen
today after hygiene inspectors shut it down because it was overrun with
mice.
Food and safety officers closed "Ye Arrow" in Boley Hill on Friday because
of “a widespread, active and uncontrolled mouse infestation throughout
the premises”.
Droppings and a dead mouse were discovered in a ground floor store room
near the kitchen where there was contaminated ready-to-eat food.
But after a hearing before Medway magistrates this morning, Medway
Council issued a certificate allowing it to reopen for business.
A council spokesman said: “Officers revisited "Ye Arrow" following the
court hearing and were satisfied that the business had taken prompt and
effective action to deal with the health concerns.”
A notice posted outside the pub read “Ye Arrow closed for the weekend
due to unforeseen circumstances”.
Mr. Tim Watters, the owner, said yesterday: “We have had the pest control
people in all over the weekend and hopefully we will be given the
all-clear and re-open for the weekend.
“In the five-and-a-half years I have had the pub this is the first
problem we have had.
“It’s a big old unit with shared storage space with the pub next door so
they could have come in from several directions.
“Droppings were found in a room we rarely use. It only takes a gap the
size of a pen for them to get in.”
The adjoining "Jolly Knight," also owned by Mr. Watters, remained open for
business as normal.
The notice came just three days after Pizza Plus Fried Chicken, in
Gillingham High Street, was served a hygiene emergency prohibition order
by Medway Magistrates' Court for similar issues.
The order, served to Kunaradnam Kunanathan, forced the fast food
takeaway to close due to "an active and widespread infestation of mice
and the presence of contaminated food and food packaging presented an
imminent risk of injury to health".
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