Birmingham Cafe Fined Nearly £3,000 for Severe Hygiene Breaches
A popular Birmingham cafe has been ordered to pay a substantial fine after pleading guilty to multiple food safety and hygiene offences in court. The Kitchen Garden Cafe, located on York Road in Kings Heath, was found to have serious failings during an inspection by environmental health officers.
Court Hearing Reveals Disturbing Findings
A Courtyard Collective Ltd, which operates the cafe, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on October 30, 2025, where they admitted to three offences under The Food Safety and Hygiene regulations. The court heard detailed evidence of the unsanitary conditions discovered during the inspection.
Environmental health officers documented numerous hygiene violations throughout the premises. They reported dirty floors, walls, shelves, worktops, and food containers throughout the cafe. Particularly concerning were the findings regarding pest control, or rather the lack thereof.
Widespread Mouse Infestation Evidence
The inspection revealed mouse droppings in multiple locations throughout the kitchen and food preparation areas. Officers discovered droppings:
- On the floor behind the dishwasher
- Under preparation tables
- Behind refrigerators
- At floor-wall junctions
- Next to and behind the cooking range
- On the floor next to the exit to the vacant garden shop
- Throughout the kitchen area
Perhaps most alarmingly, mouse droppings were also found on low-level shelving where bowls and trays were stored, and even inside a container holding serving trays. This indicated that food was not being adequately protected from contamination at various stages of production and distribution.
Zero Food Hygiene Rating and Substantial Fine
Following the inspection in June 2025, the Kitchen Garden Cafe received a Food Hygiene Rating of Zero, the lowest possible score. The report highlighted three areas requiring major improvement:
- Hygienic food handling
- Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building
- Management of food safety
The court imposed a fine of £1,000 with additional costs of £1,888, bringing the total penalty to £2,888. Details of the charges and outcome were subsequently published in a Birmingham City Council report presented to a licensing and public protection committee on January 14.
Systemic Failures in Food Safety Management
The council report stated that there were no adequate procedures in place to control pests at the establishment. It further noted that the cafe failed to demonstrate proper systems or checks to ensure food sold or served was safe to eat, and there was insufficient evidence that staff possessed adequate knowledge about food safety protocols.
The food safety officer expressed concerns about whether standards would be maintained in the future, highlighting the seriousness of the management failures. The Kitchen Garden Cafe has been contacted for comment regarding the court's decision and the hygiene violations.
This case serves as a stark reminder to all food businesses in Birmingham about the importance of maintaining rigorous hygiene standards and implementing effective pest control measures to protect public health.
