'Filthy' conditions at Galbi Korean Restaurant in Albert Road, Southsea with mouse droppings found in oven during hygiene inspection

Shocking conditions have been discovered during a hygiene inspection with officers finding mouse droppings inside a restaurant oven.

Galbi Korean Restaurant in Southsea’s Albert Road remains closed following a routine inspection on Tuesday, July 28 that resulted in the business being forced to shut due to serious health and safety concerns.

During the visit, a mouse infestation was detected throughout the premises with mouse droppings discovered on oven shelves, next to open boxes of food and underneath drinking glasses in the bar.

An oriental cockroach was also found floating in a container of water in the bar and officers noted issues with cleanliness and dirty equipment.

Cllr Lee Hunt, cabinet member for community safety, leisure and sport, said:"What our officers uncovered during this inspection was shocking. The premises were filthy, there was clear evidence of an active mouse infestation, and mouse droppings were discovered next to open food and even inside an oven.

"The public should expect food businesses to operate to the highest hygiene standards. The conditions at this restaurant were completely unacceptable and posed a serious risk to public health, which is why we took immediate action to close the premises."

As a result, the restaurant was issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice the same day, with Portsmouth Magistrates' Court signing a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order on July 30. The court order means the venue must remain closed until the health risk has been removed.

A spokesperson for Portsmouth City Council said Galbi “remains closed and has not been authorised to reopen, as the business has not yet provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the imminent risk to health has been removed.”

The closure is one of many in the city with the Copnor Takeaway also being shut due to an active mouse infestation.