A restaurateur fined for allegedly covering a food hygiene rating with plant pots says the resulting court case has almost ruined his business. .
"For weeks afterwards we had a fully-staffed restaurant and no customers. It would be damaging for any business but especially a new business trying to find its feet.", reports Wales Online. "I begged them for a re-rating as soon as possible and they came in August and said they were impressed with the changes we'd made and they issued us with a four. At that point we were gutted the whole thing had happened but we were happy it seemed to be over. But he came back a few days later with our new four-star rating in one hand and a £200 fine in the other. When I asked what it was for he told me it was because we'd covered up the old rating.
"The food business owner, Mr Gough of Hospitality and Investments Ltd, was reminded of the requirements and asked to remove the potted plants. However, when officers returned a few days later, the plants were once again obscuring the hygiene rating sticker. This led to a £200 fixed penalty notice being issued to Mr Gough who chose not to pay."
"I had to prioritise my bills and commitments with suppliers and staff. I was emailing the council all the time explaining our financial situation because of the nonsense created around the original rating.