A Chinese takeaway in Ripon has been forced to close its doors after a routine inspection found serious food hygiene concerns.
Harrogate Borough Council has served the owner of the Dragon Inn Chinese Restaurant with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order.
A council officer found poor food hygiene controls, waste issues and insufficient hand washing facilities so closed the takeaway down on Tuesday.
We tried to contact the owner but found a notice at the door which said the business is closed until September 8 at the earliest.
The council will present the prohibition notice and its evidence to the magistrates court at a date to be confirmed.
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If the courts rule in favour of the council then the takeaway owner will likely need to pay costs, rectify the issues raised and then apply for a reinspection.
However, if the courts rule in favour of Dragon Inn then it will be able to apply for costs for the time it was forced to close.
Dragon Inn has received ‘good’ four out of five food hygiene ratings in the past five years from the council with the last inspection in January 2020.
A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order entitles the council to prevent the premises trading in any food-related activity immediately.
Such orders are usually granted when an environmental health officer believes serious breaches of standards are putting customers or staff at risk.
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:
“The Dragon Inn was served with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice due to poor food hygiene, waste issues and insufficient hand washing facilities.
“This Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice will now be presented to the magistrates court.”
