Look inside Blackpool's 'filthy and unsafe' Chinese Buffet that saw firm fined thousands

The firm that runs The Chinese Buffet, on Church Street, has been ordered to pay out almost £9,000 by Blackpool magistrates after admitting a string of food hygiene offences.

As well as the dirty kitchen and inadequate washing facilities for staff, council officers found there was no way to open the door to the walk-in freezer from the inside.

Lynda Bennett, prosecuting for Blackpool Council, said: "The freezer is some way from the main dining area and if someone had got trapped inside no one would have known.”

The company, 107 (Blackpool) Ltd, yesterday admitted eight hygiene offences and two health and safety charges.

Ms Bennett added: "There have been complaints to the council from people who have eaten there and then suffered food poisoning types of illness.

"One parent complained her daughter had suffered an allergic reaction which suggested her food may have contained peanuts.”

She said this prompted an investigation by the local authority, which revealed the filthy kitchen conditions.

Flooring was damaged and staff washing facilities were unsatisfactory and did not have towels.

Dirt was also found around the dessert preparation area, Blackpool Magistrates' Court heard.

The chef was confronted about allergy warnings on foods but his lack of English meant an interpreter had to be brought in. The prosecutor said that notices about allergens are now being displayed above food.

The restaurant also failed to keep utensils that came into contact with food clean and disinfected, causing a risk of contamination.

Staff at the restaurant - which the council said can take up to £14,000 at a weekend - also failed to keep up with paperwork required by law.

Tim Pole, defending, said: "The company wishes to apologise for the failings. The director, Peter Wu, is concerned the buffet failed to keep the standards it ought to have done.

“Over a five-year period there were 21 complaints and during that time there were some 70,000 customers, which means the percentage of complaints was very very small.

“There was a failing in standards and the head chef was replaced and new systems put in.”

He said the company had no previous convictions and had shown a high level of co-operation with the council.

Sentencing, District Judge Jane Goodwin said: "It is a privilege to serve food to the public and standards have to be high.

“There were poor hygiene standards some practices fell short of what is needed.”

The firm was fined a total of £6,600 and must pay £2,010 court costs and a £170 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the hearing, Coun Gillian Campbell, deputy leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Such failures in meeting the food hygiene and health and safety standards that are required will not be tolerated.

“The fines in this case are significant and this decision should send out a strong message to other business owners of the consequences of flouting regulations and potentially putting the public at risk.

“We will always try to work with businesses with regards to hygiene matters. We want to see our food businesses thrive, but when standards are extremely poor we will not hesitate to take enforcement action to protect both residents and visitors.

“We would recommend that people check the Food Standards Agency website, which helps consumers choose where to eat or shop for food by giving them information about the hygiene

standards in restaurants, takeaways and food shops: www.ratings.food.gov.uk.”