Food hygiene breaches at North Cardiff restaurant

A restaurant operator and his company have been ordered to pay over £3,500 after serious food hygiene breaches were identified at a restaurant in Birchgrove.

Motiur Rahman, 51, from Cardiff, and his business, Spice Kitchen Ltd pleaded guilty at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 2 September to offences under food hygiene legislation following investigations by Shared Regulatory Services.

The case came to light, when environmental health officers visited the premises, then trading as Delhi Cuisine, in October 2024, following a request from the public. During the visit, officers found the business open and trading with an active cockroach infestation at the business. The premises closed voluntarily and remained closed until the issues were resolved.

The business later reopened under the trading name Grand Sylhet, operated by Spice Kitchen Ltd. During a further inspection in January 2025, officers found the premises trading without a supply of hot water. High-risk food handling activities involving both raw and ready-to-eat foods were taking place, despite there being no safe means of washing hands or equipment. The premises again voluntarily and remained closed until hot water was restored.

Ed Stubbs, the cabinet member with responsibility for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council said: "The conditions identified during these inspections presented unacceptable risks and required immediate action to protect public health.

"We will continue to take robust enforcement action where serious food safety breaches are found and will not hesitate to prosecute businesses that fail to comply with food hygiene legislation."

Shared Regulatory Services work closely with businesses to help them meet their legal obligations, but enforcement action will be taken where necessary to protect consumers and maintain public confidence in food safety standards.

Motiur Rahman was fined £240, ordered to pay costs of £200, with a victim surcharge of £96. Spice Kitchen Ltd was fined £2,000, ordered to pay £200 in costs with a victim surcharge of £800.