A West London Indian takeaway has been hit with a £12,000 penalty after council inspectors uncovered a serious cockroach and fly infestation during a routine visit.
Shocking Hygiene Failings Uncovered
Punjabi Chula, located on Station Road in Hayes, was found to be riddled with pests during a Hillingdon Council inspection in September 2024. Health and safety officers discovered multiple critical violations that posed severe health risks to customers.
Inspectors found rotten and unrefrigerated food in preparation areas, while the entire premises showed no signs of proper cleaning. Dirt was ingrained throughout the kitchen, and perhaps most alarmingly, the hand wash basin was completely unused and covered in grime.
Failed Improvement Opportunities
Owner Harpeet Singh, 37, of Benedict Drive in Feltham, agreed to shut the business immediately following the initial inspection with plans to make improvements. The council served formal notices requiring him to complete food hygiene training, implement allergen procedures, and provide evidence that a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) procedure was being correctly followed.
The business was permitted to reopen after two follow-up inspections, but a fourth visit in December revealed that Mr Singh had failed to adhere to the required standards. By February 2025, the crucial HACCP documentation still hadn't been provided to authorities.
Court Consequences and Sentencing
Mr Singh later pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
At sentencing, District Judge Kathryn Verghis described the matters as "serious" while acknowledging the defendant's naivety. Mr Singh was fined £5,000, required to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and the council's £5,000 prosecution costs for failing to control and eliminate the pest infestation.
While the takeaway had improved its cleanliness enough to receive a hygiene rating of three (classified as 'generally satisfactory'), the court case highlighted the serious nature of the original violations.
Councillor Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, emphasised that "businesses serving food have a legal responsibility to uphold basic standards of cleanliness and safe food preparation" and that lack of experience provides no excuse for failing in this duty.
