Three central London restaurants and a top nightclub have been shut down after inspectors found a catalogue of filth - including cockroach eggs - in their kitchens.
Hygiene officers discovered rodent droppings, maggots and decomposing mice in the restaurants in and around Covent Garden.
One of the restaurants, which boasts of supplying Harrods with Asian cuisine, was forced to close after hygiene inspectors found mice droppings in its kitchens.
Droppings were found on surfaces at Covent Garden restaurant Sitaaray and there was an “extensive” infestation at nightclub Tamarai.
The two venues, operated by Tamarai Ltd, share split-level premises in Drury Lane.
The restaurant says on its website that it is the official supplier of pan Asian cuisine to Harrods’ food hall.
It is not known if Harrods stocked food prepared in the same kitchen where the infestation was found.
Sitaaray was visited by inspectors on September 7 and Tamarai one day later. Both were closed on the spot and were served with hygiene prohibition orders which forced them to remain shut until work was completed to remove the infestations.
The restaurant was made to pay full costs of £1,747 to Camden council and the nightclub was ordered to pay £2,180. According to its website, the venues were due to reopen today after refurbishment work.
There is no suggestion Harrods breached any hygiene rules. A spokeswoman for its food hall said: “We do not stock them any more. The concession ended on October 22 and will be replaced by another provider.
“Tamarai no longer trade in Harrods as they would simply like to concentrate on developing their flagship business.”
As part of a wider hygiene crackdown by Camden council, a kebab shop in High Holborn and an Indian restaurant in the Euston area were also closed.
Kings Kebab in Kingsway is still shut after an inspection on September 26 found decomposing mice on home-made traps, maggots and cockroach eggs on oil containers. Inspectors also reported a blocked sink filled with used cooking fat.
Chutneys restaurant in Drummond Street was also closed due to a mice infestation in its kitchen and food storage areas. Camden described the standard of cleaning as “poor” and structural works were required to control the infestation.
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Abdul Hai, the council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “We know how popular Camden is as a destination for nightlife and entertainment and we will make sure that eating and drinking in Camden continues to be an enjoyable and safe experience by working proactively with our food business to help them get it right for their customers.”
