An Indian restaurant in Leyton has been fined £25,000 after environmental health inspectors discovered a severe cockroach infestation. The Shish Mahal, situated at 815 High Road, was immediately shut down during a July 2024 inspection when pests were found in food preparation areas where open ingredients were stored.
Abdul Bashir, representing the parent company Leyton Dining Club Ltd, pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates’ Court on April 28 to two charges: failing to implement adequate pest control procedures and failing to maintain cleanliness. He was ordered to pay a £25,000 fine plus £5,465.92 in costs.
Waltham Forest Council’s environmental health team acted after a public complaint. A council spokesperson said: “This case clearly shows that food businesses must address pest control before it becomes an imminent risk to public health. Basic pest control measures are essential to protect the public from health and safety hazards.”
The spokesperson added: “Waltham Forest Council wants to work with food businesses to encourage best practice, and we encourage the public to raise concerns so we can target enforcement where needed.”
Shish Mahal currently holds a food hygiene rating of three, following a November 2025 inspection. In a separate incident, a Chinese takeaway in Hillingdon, Royal Jade Inn in Hayes, was fined £14,000 after three inspections between November 2024 and August 2025 revealed a kitchen coated in grease and dirt.
Consumers can check food hygiene ratings of any business via the Food Standards Agency website.
