A restaurant owner who was fined over claims he covered up a food hygiene rating with plant pots has closed his business down.
But Wales Online reports he didn't pay it because the business was struggling financially and he needed to "prioritise paying staff and bills". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
He said: "Sadly because of that rating we were completely boycotted. For weeks afterwards we had a fully-staffed restaurant and no customers. "In our feedback the council suggested strongly that we get rid of that member of staff and we acted on that immediately. "But it certainly wasn’t deliberate and it was clearly visible to people close enough to the building. Perhaps if you were standing on the other side of the road you might not have seen it.
Asked why he didn’t pay the fine straightaway in order to try and move on quickly Carl replied: "Context is important here, which hasn't been reported elsewhere.