THE operators of a coffee shop at Merry Hill have been fined nearly £5,000 after admitting food hygiene failings after mouse droppings were found onsite.

Food hygiene inspectors made an unannounced visit to Soho Coffee Co in March 2023 after a tip off about pest activity at the premises.

Mouse droppings were found throughout the site, including the servery and washing up areas, the electrical cupboard and the dry store and office – and as a result the business was forced to close temporarily.

Dudley Council brought legal proceedings against London-based Soho Coffee Shops and on September 18 the company pleaded guilty at Dudley Magistrates’ Court to three charges under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

The business was fined £4,900 and ordered to pay a £1,960 victim surcharge and legal costs of £1,225 after admitting failing to complete pest checks, failing to keep the premises in good repair and condition, and failing to put in place adequate pest control procedures.

Mouse droppings and dirty scenes discovered at Soho Coffee at Merry HillMouse droppings and dirty scenes discovered at Soho Coffee at Merry Hill (Image: Dudley Council)

The premises previously had an excellent food safety record but during the visit the business was found to have failed to implement a food safety management system, particularly in relation to pest control checks and cleaning.

The pest issue occurred straight after a restructure and was found to be in part due to a renovation at a premises next door disturbing the mice population – the council said.

Councillor James Clinton, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for public health, said of the case: “During an officer’s visit to Soho Coffee premises at Merry Hill last year, mouse droppings were found in the food rooms - putting the consumers of such food at risk of injury to health.

“We had no choice but to temporarily close the premises, but I am pleased the business has accepted full responsibility and has since worked closely with us to ensure food hygiene standards are carefully adhered to.”

A spokesperson for Soho Coffee Shops Limited said: "SCSL is disappointed to have fallen short of the high standards it expects across all stores in this instance.

"Senior management immediately engaged with Dudley Council in this matter and have been highly cooperative with all parties.

"The Merry Hill store received a 5-star food hygiene rating at the inspection immediately after this incident. It has also received a further 5-star food hygiene rating earlier this year.”

A spokesperson for Merry Hill added: “The health and safety of anyone who visits or works at Merry Hill is always our top priority and amongst many measures we have in place, we have a strict policy covering this particular area.

"We’d like to reassure customers that this issue was resolved earlier this year, Soho Coffee are trading normally and have since received a 5-star hygiene rating.

“On an ongoing basis, we work closely with all of our retailers and Dudley Environmental Health to ensure the centre has high standards of safety and hygiene.”