Inside the kitchen of The Grosvenor in Hanwell, Ealing Council inspectors did not just find standard grime; they discovered widespread evidence of a mouse infestation that would eventually cost the venue’s owners over £52,000. During a series of unannounced visits, officials recorded droppings on food preparation surfaces, equipment, and shelving, highlighting a significant risk to public health in the heart of the community.
On Wednesday, 22 April 2026, Ealing Magistrates’ Court sentenced Redcat Retail Pubs Ltd, the company behind the Oaklands Road establishment. The firm pleaded guilty to three separate offences involving poor pest control and a failure to comply with legal notices served by the local authority. The financial penalty was substantial, totaling £52,363, which included a £37,000 fine, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and over £13,000 in legal costs.
Ealing Magistrates’ Court imposes heavy financial penalties
The legal proceedings followed a lengthy investigation by Ealing Council’s food safety team. The court heard that the initial inspection on 1 February 2024 was triggered by a specific complaint regarding food poisoning. When officers arrived at The Grosvenor, the scale of the hygiene failure became immediately apparent.
Inspectors found mouse droppings scattered across the kitchen and basement. Critically, these were located on surfaces where food was being prepared for customers. In the basement storage areas, the team found packets of ready-to-eat foods that had been gnawed by rodents and contaminated. Due to the imminent risk to health, the pub was served with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice and forced to close its doors immediately.
This enforcement action is part of a broader crackdown on sub-standard food premises in the region. The case mirrors food hygiene enforcement in nearby Hayes, where a takeaway was also hit with significant fines for failing to manage pest issues and cleanliness.
Timeline of inspections and failed compliance
While the pub was permitted to reopen on 14 February 2024 after initial improvement works, the problems were not fully resolved. When food inspectors returned for a follow-up check in July 2024, they again found evidence of mice in the basement. At this stage, the business was handed a food hygiene rating of 2, indicating that “improvement was necessary.”
A formal Hygiene Improvement Notice was served, giving Redcat Retail Pubs Ltd until 22 August 2024 to implement robust pest control measures. However, a revisit on 27 August confirmed that the notice had been ignored. Droppings were still present, and the company had failed to secure the premises against rodents. This repeated failure to adhere to legal requirements was a primary factor in the severity of the fine handed down by the court this week.
Public health risks of rodent infestations in kitchens
Rodent infestations in commercial kitchens are treated with extreme gravity by health officials because of the biological hazards they introduce. Mice are known carriers of pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can be transferred to food through urine, droppings, and physical contact.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, emphasized that such conditions are “completely unacceptable.” Nagpal noted that when businesses ignore the law, the council will take firm action to protect residents. The council maintains that all food businesses have a non-negotiable legal duty to keep their premises clean and free from pests to ensure customer safety.
Current status of The Grosvenor in Hanwell
Since the legal intervention and the subsequent court case, the operational model of the pub has changed. The Grosvenor remains open for business on Oaklands Road, but it has ceased its food service and currently only serves drinks.
A recent inspection conducted in January 2026 showed significant progress, with the venue being awarded a 4-star hygiene rating. This indicates that the environment is now considered “good” by the council’s standards. Residents are encouraged to check the official food hygiene ratings of any local establishment before choosing to visit. If you have concerns about a food business in the borough, you can report them directly to the council’s food safety team via email.
Source: Ealing Council
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