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The owners of The Lismoyne hotel in the Hampshire town of Fleet have been fined a total of £21,000 after admitted a total of seven food hygiene and safety breaches.

The hygiene problems in food preparation areas of the Church Road hotel were uncovered by environmental health officers from Hart District Council, who were conducting a routine food hygiene inspection in January 2010.

They found that:

• The kitchen area was dirty, disorganised and poorly maintained
• The delivery area’s two freezers and walk-in chiller room were ingrained with dirt, grease and mould
• Food was left open, undated and in various stages of decomposition
• Two dry storage areas were unsanitary
• Light switches were covered with grease
• Waste fat was stored in open containers

For these problems and many others, hotel bosses were ordered to pay £3,000 apiece for each of the food hygiene breaches, as well as a £15 victim surcharge and £1,196 in legal costs.

Since the hearing at Aldershot Magistrates Court, the owners of The Lismoyne have taken steps to get food hygiene up to scratch. This includes regular deep cleaning, vigorous daily checks and ensuring staff undergo food hygiene training.