A Southall pub and its director have been ordered by a court to pay around £17,000 after admitting a series of offences involving bedbugs, cockroaches, and safety hazards.

Old Oak Tree Pub Ltd, which operates the Old Oak Tree Pub at 2A The Common, Southall, and its director, Mr Darshan Singh Grewal, of Laburnum Grove, Hounslow, pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court. The case was heard on 28 July, following a long-running investigation by Ealing Council.

After the council discovered ongoing problems with pests, including bedbugs in guest rooms, it issued a legal notice to the pub, but the owners failed to comply.

Long-running investigation

The investigation began in 2023 after members of the public complained about poor conditions at the pub.

During several inspections of the pub and its guest accommodation, council officers found bedbugs in bedrooms, cockroaches in the kitchen, and a series of hazards that could cause someone to slip, trip or fall.

Officers provided the pub with advice, sent warning letters, and served legal notices requiring that improvements were made. However, the council found that the problems were not adequately fixed and, during follow-up visits, officers kept finding issues.

Failure to act

Magistrates heard that the company failed to comply with a Health and Safety Improvement Notice relating to slip, trip, and fall risks.

The company and its director also admitted 2 offences under the Public Health Act for failing to remedy the problems surrounding cockroach and bedbug activity at the venue.

The court considered the defendants to have been given multiple opportunities to put matters right but had failed to do so.

Court penalties

Old Oak Tree Pub Ltd was fined £4,800, while Mr Grewal was fined £4,000.

The court also ordered the defendants to pay a victim surcharge of £3,200 and prosecution costs of £5,000, bringing the total financial penalty to approximately £17,000.

Mr Grewal now has a criminal record.

Protecting public health and safety

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “Businesses have a legal responsibility to provide safe and hygienic environments for their customers, visitors, and staff.

“In this case, our officers found repeated failures over a long period of time, despite providing advice and several opportunities for the business to address the problems.

“We will not hesitate to take enforcement action where companies fail to meet basic legal obligations and put public health or safety at risk.”

Reporting problems

If you have concerns about health and safety at a business based in the borough, or if you work for a local business and would like some advice, please email healthandsafety@ealing.gov.uk or visit the council website.

You can also report issues to the Health and Safety Executive.

If you’re planning to eat out, check the business’s hygiene rating first.

To tell the council about a food business that you have concerns about, email foodsafety@ealing.gov.uk