A pub in Southall and its director have been ordered to pay around £17,000 after pleading guilty to hygiene and safety offences, including problems involving bedbugs and cockroaches.

Old Oak Tree Pub Ltd and director Darshan Singh Grewal pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on 28 July, following an Ealing Council investigation that began in 2023 after public complaints.

Inspections found bedbugs in bedrooms, cockroaches in the kitchen and several hazards that could cause people to slip, trip or fall. Officers issued warnings and legal notices, but follow-up visits found that the problems had not been properly resolved.

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Repeated failures to address problems

The pub failed to comply with a Health and Safety Improvement Notice covering fall risks on the premises.

Both defendants also admitted two offences under the Public Health Act linked to the pest problems. Magistrates heard that the business had been given several opportunities to address the issues but had failed to do so.

Old Oak Tree Pub Ltd was fined £4,800, while Grewal was fined £4,000 personally. A £3,200 victim surcharge and £5,000 in prosecution costs brought the total financial penalty to around £17,000.

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Council response

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s Cabinet Member for Decent Living Incomes, said businesses have a legal duty to provide safe and hygienic premises for customers, visitors and staff.

He said the council's officers had found repeated failures despite giving the business advice and several opportunities to make improvements.

Councillor Nagpal added that the council would continue taking enforcement action where businesses fail to meet legal requirements and put public health or safety at risk.