Food businesses in the dock

Rats, mice and cockroach infestations as well as poor food safety standards saw a number of Birmingham businesses hit with hefty fines or temporary closures last month.

Birmingham Magistrates Court heard a number of cases throughout October brought against premises by the city council in dedicated days known as ‘Corporation Court’.

Here is a round-up of restaurants, takeaways and shops which found themselves in the dock in the past few weeks.

Sum Yue Restaurant, Unit 5 of Tin Tin Food Hall, Masshouse Lane.

The restaurant’s director Chung Yuen Yue said he was “deeply distraught” when he admitted six hygiene failures at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court on October 8.

Deficiencies included a dirty floor, shelving, the hot water heater, walls, the cooker, pipework, fixtures, articles, containers, grease filters a fridge and a microwave.

Magistrates fined the company £3,500 and ordered a £1,400 surcharge and to pay costs of £3,477.30.

Charcoal Grill and Prime Shop, both on Alum Rock Road.

Hygiene emergency protection orders were granted against two businesses on the same road in separate hearings on Friday, October 9.

A cockroach infestation and hygiene failures were found at Charcoal Grill following an inspection on October 5 while evidence of mice and cockroach infestations were discovered at Prime Shop two days later.

The orders meant both premises had to remain closed until works to rectify the issues had been completed.

Oakhurst News Express, in Oakhurst Road.

Rat droppings, blood and gnawed food packages were discovered across the premises following an inspection on October 7.

It was deemed there was an imminent risk to public health and a hygiene emergency prohibition notice was served on the premises.

A court hearing on October 9 heard how officers from Birmingham City Council re-inspected the store and discovered issues had been rectified and there was no longer a risk to public health.

Shinwari Darbar, in Stratford Road.

Rodent droppings and a cockroach infestation were found at the former restaurant on June 10 last year while another cockroach infestation was discovered at a subsequent visit three months later.

Ex-director Zia Gondal said he had “lost everything” trying to improve the restaurant before deciding to close it and leave the country.

Magistrates fined Gondal £1,200 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £480 and prosecution costs of £933.

Hot and Spicy in Coventry Road.

Two mice infestations within three months were discovered at the premises in September and December 2025.

Director Zulfiqar Khan admitted six charges at a court hearing on October 22 and magistrates were told pest control measures had been in place but failed to deal with the problem effectively while the business suffered as a result of people dumping rubbish outside during the bin strikes.

Magistrates fined Khan £691 and ordered him to pay a surcharge of £276 and prosecution costs of £3,151.

Al Medina Bakery Ltd in Stratford Road.

Environmental health officers found rats, mice and cockroaches at the bakery while on an exercise looking for businesses selling a soft drink which contained a banned chemical.

A dead cockroach was spotted on a box and the on-the-spot inspection uncovered other problems including rodent droppings and a lack of effective cleaning.

Birmingham Magistrates granted a hygiene emergency prohibition order at a hearing on October 26.

Mohammadi Sweets and Restaurant in Stratford Road.

The business was hit with a £30,000 court bill when a mouse infestation on February 25 last year before cockroaches were discovered in a separate inspection a few months later on August 7.

Director Fakhar Zaman pleaded guilty to five charges on behalf of the company and five similar ones against himself and, in mitigation, said issues including the bin strikes contributed to the problems.

Magistrates fined the company £18,000 and ordered it to pay a £7,200 surcharge and costs of £1,902. Zaman was fined £1,399 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £560 and costs of £1,902.

By Gurdip Thandi | Local Democracy Reporting Service