A café popular with football fans was found to have breached food hygiene rules in an investigation by Trafford Council’s environmental health officers.
United Café on Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, and its director, Sean Stokes, were fined more than £10,000 at Manchester Magistrates Court.
The prosecution followed evidence of rat activity, including gnawed potatoes, found in food preparation and storage areas at the dirty premises, and the serving of a burger containing gluten to an undercover officer declaring an allergy.
When officers visited in August 2024 they discovered the business, operated by Café United Ltd, had not made accurate daily checks for rats, as required under Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point procedures, recording the site as pest-free though an infestation was present.
The cafe closed voluntarily for eight days to address the issues but when undercover officers visited again in November, on a sampling visit to check compliance with allergen legislation, they were served a burger containing gluten, though they had declared a gluten allergy.
Mr Stokes, 56, of Bury New Road, Whitefield, Manchester, and Café United Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches of food safety legislation. Café United Ltd was fined £8,000 with costs of £1,000 awarded and Mr Stokes was fined £1,048 with a surcharge of £419.
Cllr Rose Thompson, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Safety, said:
“Visitors and residents in Trafford have the right to expect good standards of hygiene, and reliable advice on ingredients, from any food outlet that trades in our borough.
“This prosecution shows that we will not hesitate to take action where standards fall short of what is acceptable. Thanks to our environmental health team for pursuing this case and bringing this business and its director to court. It is a clear warning that substantial fines can be issued to businesses that risk putting people’s health at risk.”