Council prosecution sees hotel owner order to pay £29,000 over hygiene offences

Ravinder Singh Takhar, of Templewood Lane, Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, pleaded guilty to nine breaches of Food Safety and Hygiene regulations as proprietor of The Spread Eagle Hotel in Cornmarket, Thame.

The local authority launched its prosecution over two Hygiene Improvement Notices requiring the repair or replacement of the floor and walls in the food preparation area within 11 weeks.

The notices were issued following an inspection in July 2023, which the council said found that the food premises were not kept clean, in good repair, or in a safe condition, with damaged walls and floors in the kitchen.

Environmental health officers also found that proper hygiene and safety procedures had not been implemented, waste storage and disposal were inadequate, and the premises’ construction failed to prevent contamination from pests.

Alongside the improvement notices, the council also handed the hotel a food hygiene rating of just 1.

A second inspection was carried out three months later, which found that the owner had failed to comply with the notices and had failed to ensure that the food premises were kept clean and in good condition, the council said.

Following a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 9 September, Ravinder Singh Takhar, Trading as The Spread Eagle Hotel, was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £12,243 costs and a £2,000 surcharge.

He pleaded guilty to a series of offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

Cllr Sam James-Lawrie, Cabinet Member for Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We gave the owner of this hotel clear instructions and ample time to put things right, but they chose not to act.

"This left us with no option but to take enforcement action through the court. This case involved significant work for our Food & Workplace Safety and Legal teams.

"We’re therefore very pleased that the District Judge issued a significant fine and costs against the premises.”

The Spread Eagle was reinspected in December 2024 and received a Hygiene Rating of 3.

The Spread Eagle has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey