Crystal Palace given zero hygiene food rating after mice infestation at training ground

Crystal Palace have been forced to take action to improve conditions at their training ground after a report revealed mice were found by health inspectors in the kitchen.

An environmental health officer inspected the premises at Palace's training ground in Beckenham on August 29 and it was found to be well below the required standard.

The inspector discovered the kitchen had become infested with mice, forcing the club to close it down and bring in pest control to deal with the problem, which had reportedly been ongoing for months.

The report, published by Bromley council after a Freedom of Information request from local publication Kent Live, stated the south London club had "been given a food hygiene rating of 0."

It read: “This is because the conditions found at the time of inspection were unacceptable. Personally, I am disappointed as you have failed to ensure the safety of the food you are producing and feeding your staff.

“It is clear that you haven’t managed the problem effectively and the activity has been ongoing for several months.

"You agreed to voluntarily close the kitchen for a few days to address this matter. Appropriate treatment methods must be used to eliminate these pests.”

Responding in a statement, a Crystal Palace spokesman said the club attended to the problem when they invested "substantially" in the training ground over the summer.

“The remedial action was approved by the environmental health inspector and we are confident that our five-star rating at Beckenham will be restored when we are re-inspected, in line with our five-star rating for the kitchen facilities at Selhurst Park,” the spokesman added.