The former operator of a posh London restaurant loved by A-listers and the Royal Family has been ordered to pay more than £30,000 after animal poo was found in the food. Beach Blanket Babylon, in Notting Hill, was said to be infested with rats, mice and cockroaches during an inspection in September 2022.
The West London council ultimately took the business operators , Robert Kenneth Newmark and Conor George Thomson-Moore, to court following the inspections
The pests riddled the Ledbury Road spot, with packets of cocoa powder, flaked almonds and till white seeds gnawed by mice. Kensington and Chelsea Council’s food safety team later uncovered a lack of hot water in March 2023, meaning staff were unable to wash their hands.
This is despite the likes of Selena Gomez, Naomi Campbell and the Prince and Princess of Wales enjoying meals there in recent years.
Conor George Thomson-Moore pleaded guilty to four charges related to poor food hygiene, contamination of food with mouse droppings, poor cleaning, inadequate pest control procedures and failure to comply with a Hygiene Improvement Notice. He appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, June 16 and told to pay £31,000. This includes a £7,000 fine, £2,000 victim surcharge and legal costs of £22,000. He was also banned from running a food business for 10 years.
Addressing the court, District Judge Clarke said this was likely on the most “egregious cases” he’d ever seen.
Councillor Johnny Thalassites, lead member for environment and planning added: “Kensington and Chelsea is home to a vibrant and growing food scene, visited and enjoyed by many. We support our local businesses, but we also take food safety seriously.
“Our officers work with businesses to ensure high standards are maintained that our residents and visitors expect and deserve. This prosecution shows our commitment to being a safe and fair borough and we won’t hesitate to act against those businesses who don’t play by the rules.”
The charges against Robert Newmark were withdrawn at a previous hearing in April of this year. Beach Blanket Babylon has since shut down.
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