A Southall restaurant was fined over £20,000 after environmental health officers discovered a serious mice infestation on its premises.

The case highlights the council’s continued efforts to protect residents by holding food businesses to account when public safety is put at risk.

In September 2023, food safety officers from Ealing Council visited Lahori Savour, a fast food restaurant on The Green, Southall, following complaints from members of the public.

Officers found evidence of a widespread mouse infestation, including dead rodents, alongside unhygienic conditions and poor maintenance.

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Due to the immediate risk to public health, the restaurant was ordered to close straight away.

The owner, Mukhtar Hussain, of Southall, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 27 May 2025, where he pleaded guilty to multiple food safety offences. These included failures to prevent pest access and failure to maintain a clean, safe environment for food preparation. He and the business were fined a total of £20,479, including court costs.

Lahori Savour was later allowed to reopen after officers confirmed that sufficient work had been done to address the issues. The restaurant’s current food hygiene rating is 2.

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Another serious case in the borough

In a separate case, a food production company based in Acton faced similar action. Officers visited Green Forest Plus Ltd in March 2024 and found what was described as one of the worst mice infestations ever recorded in the borough.

The company, which has since ceased trading locally, was also ordered to close immediately.

At a court hearing in May 2025, the owner Qing Tian was fined £8,432 for failing to maintain hygiene standards and allowing pests to contaminate the premises

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‘Protecting our community’

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, cabinet member for decent living incomes, said:

“Food businesses have a responsibility to protect their customers by applying the highest possible safety standards to their operations, and our food safety team does everything it can to help businesses maintain these standards. However, we will ensure the minority of businesses that break the rules and gamble with the public’s safety are held accountable.”

“Investigating these cases costs the council money, which would be better spent supporting our residents elsewhere. We will continue to crackdown on food businesses with poor hygiene standards. You can play your part in supporting our community by reporting any concerns to our team.”

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Know before you eat

You can check the food hygiene rating of any food business via the Food Standards Agency website.

If you are concerned about a food business operating in Southall or elsewhere in the borough, email the food safety team directly at foodsafety@ealing.gov.uk.