Inside the filthy Chinese where health inspectors found a live LOBSTER in a washing up bowl
Investigators raided Good Fortune restaurant in Portsmouth, Hants, following a tip-off from a customer who had spotted a mouse there
A REVOLTING Chinese restaurant has been slapped with a £5,000 bill in fines and costs after health inspectors discovered a live lobster in a washing up bowl in its kitchen.
Investigators raided Good Fortune restaurant in Portsmouth, Hants, following a tip-off from a customer who had spotted a mouse there.
When they visited the eatery they found the lobster sitting in a plastic washing up bowl on the draining board. In the sink was another bowl filled with raw meat.
Mouse droppings were found in the kitchen, restaurant, the bar, and store rooms, and it was also found that food was being stored on the floor, a court heard.
Inspectors discovered a dirty cloth was being used to clean up spills and a cucumber was found next to a chopping board used to cut up raw meat.
They found a fan was blocking the kitchen's only hand basin, preventing staff from washing their hands, and a rubbish bag full of grease had been left at in an extractor fan ducting.
Magistrates in Portsmouth were told the restaurant's hygiene standards had been in 'steady decline' for some years despite warnings from the city council.
Owner Chong Jun Zhang, 43, told the court he had 'taken his eye off the ball' after becoming a new father.
He also claimed he was unaware of the mouse infestation and said pest control had visited a few days prior to the inspection, which took place on July 15 last year.
The court heard how Good Fortune had voluntarily closed following the inspectors' visit but was open again by July 20.
Zhang, of Gosport, Hants, admitted nine counts of breaching EU hygiene regulations.
One charge related to a fan blocking the only sink in the kitchen meaning employees were not washing their hands.
Jenny Ager, prosecuting, said: "The premises has a history of poor hygiene, poor structure and poor confidence in management since Mr Zhang took over the business."
Two previous inspections were carried out in 2013 and 2014 which resulted in hygiene ratings of two and then one but improvements have since been made and the restaurant now has a hygiene rating of three.
Laura Jenking-Rees, defending, said Mr Zhang was "deeply, deeply sorry."
Sian Bamber, chair of the bench at Portsmouth Magistrates Court, fined the company £4,000 for one charge with £600 costs and £120 victim surcharge.
Zhang was fined £300 in relation to one charge and ordered to pay £30 victim surcharge and £150 costs.
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