Food ban after mice problem is discovered at historic pub
Britain's second-oldest pub has been prevented from selling food because of a mouse infestation.
An environmental health inspector visited The Baker's Arms, in The Green, Blaby, on Wednesday and found evidence of mice.
She immediately served it with an emergency prohibition notice, preventing it from serving food.
That decision was upheld yesterday by Leicester magistrates, who said the pub could not operate as a food outlet until Blaby District Council was convinced it no longer posed an imminent risk to public health.
Caroline Frith, prosecuting on behalf of the council, told the court that environmental health officer Caroline Harbour had found mouse droppings under the cooker and food preparation area, gnawed bags of chocolate drops and half-chewed chocolate drops on top of tinned food in the store room.
She also found droppings and a dead mouse on the floor under the cooker.
The inspector immediately stopped food sales at the Grade II-listed pub, which dates back to 1485 and is second oldest in Britain after Nottingham's Trip to Jerusalem.
Ms Frith said: "There was severe mouse activity in the kitchen and store-room.
"Mice running around chewing food cause an imminent risk to health and so we believe an order should be made."
Ernest Page, the designated food business proprietor, was told about the council's intention to apply for the order and invited to attend court.
The hearing was told he did not want to go to the hearing, or contest the application.
He was not available to comment afterwards.
After the hearing, a council spokesman said: "The pub manager and staff have worked with environmental health officers and spent a lot of time since the closure rectifying the issues and improving standards so we hope to re-open the kitchen over the weekend."
9 Comments
by Anon, Blaby
Monday, September 06 2010, 3:49PM
“I have been going in the Bakers for years now and can honestly say it is thew best pub around for miles. The staff are friendly the atmospehere is brilliant and the food has always been exellent. Mice are found everywhere especially in old buildings that is surrounded by fields!!! This will not stop me from drinking in there and like the last comment stated for the kitchen to be re-opened again within 3 days the problem couldn't have been that bad!!!
Yes i will agree the decore could be updated but i understand they have restriction from the council as its grade 2 listed. Last time i heard the electrics needed re-wireing so there's not much point in decorating till thats done.”
by Georgia and Emily Page, Blaby
Monday, September 06 2010, 12:59PM
“To All customers of the Bakers Arms. There are restrictions on what maintenance work can be carried out on this building as it is grade 2 listed. Nearly everything needs planning permision hence the decor of the pub is not how we would like it. So it is not as easy as some customers may think e.g carpet, windows, painting etc. However we do understand where some customers maybe coming from. We undoubtly sell a perfect pint ( the condition we keep are beer in is second to none) have a good atmosphere and a friendly service :) This is reflected on how successful the business is. This however, has made us realised that we do need to be more vigilant with our checks regarding mice. However the Leicester Mercury,who we do alot of advertising with, had blown this out of proportion saying we had an investation. How can a Public house have an investation when it gets three consecutive clears and is allowed to re - open as a food buisiness on the saturday just gone only 3 days after it had been closed ??? ( This is the quickest it could be re-open ) The day this artical was printed we were actually back serving food. We have Ecolab, a pest control company in place, and we knew especially being an old building that we were at high risk of mice. The mouse that was found had eaten the poison that we had down and it went somewhere dark to die. We can ensure everybody that we will be more vidulant in checking all area's, and this will not happen again. However the cleanliness of the kitchen was not an issue with the environmental health. Thankyou to all that has supported us. Anyone that would like to speak to us, feel free to email us on georgiebaby_3001@hotmail.co.uk”
by Matt, Wigston
Sunday, September 05 2010, 4:00PM
“I agree Nigel. It's a cosy, friendly, traditional pub. The kind that are being closed down every week to make way for soulless, characterless bars full of soulless, characterless people! See you down there tomorrow night for the best pub quiz in Leicestershire.”
by Matt, Wigston
Sunday, September 05 2010, 4:00PM
“I agree Nigel. It's a cosy, friendly, traditional pub. The kind that are being closed down every week to make way for soulless, characterless bars full of soulless, characterless people! See you down there tomorrow night for the best pub quiz in Leicestershire.”
by Nigel Bailey, Wigston
Sunday, September 05 2010, 1:42PM
“The bakers is not a hovel at all and is not run down.. It is a traditional pub!! Anon & Amy of Blaby may want it to be a wine bar they can visit once a week, on a Friday for an hour, when the sun is out... Its friendly place with a good atmosphere and good beer.. and i've never seen a mouse or food being served... Oh and the owner or his family have never claimed that it is on the oldest pub list, seeing as though it was originally houses, then a bakery and a lot further down the line, a pub!! This is just an other example of the Leicester Mercury getting its facts wrong yet again!!!”
by Jane, Another Planet
Saturday, September 04 2010, 8:00PM
“Are Amy and Anon, both of Blaby, the same person? Very similar use of language there Amy/Anon. Anyway, I think it's a nice pub but I agree it has got a bit run down lately. Maybe this will make them pull their socks up and improve things a bit.
Mark, I bet it's the oldest pub in Blaby though ;)”
by Mark, Blaby
Saturday, September 04 2010, 1:45PM
“Another one?! I've visited at least four pubs all of whom claim to be the oldest in Britain! Try googling "oldest pub" and this place comes nowhere.”
by amy, Blaby
Saturday, September 04 2010, 12:13PM
“I'm not surprised given the general state of the place. Looks more like a hovel than a historic gem.”
by Anon, Blaby
Saturday, September 04 2010, 12:11PM
“I'm not surprised given the state the whole pub is in. It looks like a run down hovel not like a prized piece of history.”