The Old Oak Tree pub on The Common in Southall has been fined £17,000 after environmental health officers uncovered bed bugs in guest bedrooms and cockroaches in the kitchen. The total financial penalty includes fines for the company and its director, along with court costs and a victim surcharge.
Inspections revealed multiple health hazards
Members of the public first raised concerns about the poor conditions at the pub in 2023, prompting Ealing Council's environmental health officers to launch an investigation. During inspections, they discovered bed bugs in guest bedrooms, cockroaches in the kitchen, and several hazards that could cause someone to slip, trip, or fall.
The council provided advice, sent warning letters, and served legal notices demanding improvements. However, follow-up visits found that the problems were not adequately resolved, and officers continued to identify issues.
Legal action and court proceedings
Old Oak Tree Pub Ltd., which operates the pub, failed to comply with a Health and Safety Improvement Notice regarding slip, trip, and fall risks. The company and its director, Darshan Singh Grewal of Laburnum Grove, Hounslow, admitted two further offences under the Public Health Act at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on July 28.
The court fined Old Oak Tree Pub Ltd £4,800 and Mr Grewal £4,000, who also received a criminal record. The defendants were ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £3,200 and prosecution costs of £5,000, bringing the total financial penalty to approximately £17,000.
Council response and enforcement stance
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council's cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: "Businesses have a legal responsibility to provide safe and hygienic environments for their customers, visitors, and staff."
"In this case, our officers found repeated failures over a long period of time, despite providing advice and several opportunities for the business to address the problems. We will not hesitate to take enforcement action where companies fail to meet basic legal obligations and put public health or safety at risk," Nagpal added.
The case highlights the council's willingness to pursue legal action against businesses that neglect their duties, with the financial penalty serving as a deterrent for other establishments in the borough.
