Previous owner of Chester takeaway fined almost £4,000
The previous owner of a Chester takeaway has been sentenced for food safety and hygiene offences at Chester Magistrates’ Court.
On Monday, 17 February 2025, Sardar Muhealddin Rasul (47), previous owner of Chester Charcoal Grill, 62 Brook Street Chester – was fined £832, ordered to pay £2,737.50 costs and a £333 statutory surcharge, a total of £3,902.50. The defendant entered guilty pleas to seven food safety and hygiene offences.
On 21 June 2023, environmental health officers from Cheshire West and Chester Council visited Chester Charcoal Grill to complete a full food hygiene inspection.
They discovered the business had inadequate procedures in place to manage food safety and the staff were unable to maintain personal hygiene due to a complete lack of running hot water to the wash hand basins.
The premises were found to be dirty and high-risk foods, cooked chicken portions, cooked rice, mayonnaise and yogurt were being stored at temperatures which were a risk to public health.
Risks of cross contamination and from out-of-date food were found in the fridge. The premises voluntarily closed during the inspection reopening the next day after the hot water and refrigeration equipment issues had been attended to.
The defendant had earlier entered a not guilty plea but changed his plea to guilty on the day of the hearing. The business has since changed hands and is now under new management.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, Councillor Christine Warner said:
Officers within our Public Protection Service team work proactively to help business owners comply with legislation and meet hygiene standards and food safety. The vast majority of food establishments in Cheshire West operate to a high standard; we have a duty to the public to take effective action where others do not make the same effort. In this case officers witnessed poor conditions that posed a risk to the public and the fine imposed sends a clear and strong message that the courts will treat such situations seriously.
Cheshire West and Chester Council operate a paid for advisory service for all food businesses called the ‘GET5’ scheme. Call 01244 973486 for more information or see the Council’s website.