Harbour Fish Bar shut under emergency court order over ‘serious risk of contamination of food’

Harbour Fish Bar in Ramsgate has been shut down under a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order.

The takeaway, in Harbour Street, was shut after a Thanet council officer inspection on February 9 found water leaking into the food preparation area and flooding the floor creating “a serious risk of contamination of food.”

A court order from Margate Magistrates was made then made to shut the premises.

A notice on the window of the business publicising the closure order says: “These conditions posed an imminent risk of injury to health and the Court hereby makes a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order prohibiting the use of the premises, the processes and the equipment at the premises known as Harbour Fish Bar, from February 9 until such time as Thanet District Council issues a certificate to the effect that there no longer exists an imminent risk of injury to health at the premises.”

(UPDATE) A Thanet council spokesperson said: “A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was served by the council’s Public Protection team on the Harbour Fish Bar in Ramsgate under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 on Wednesday 9 February, following confirmed reports of an imminent risk to health.

“A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order was then applied for from the Magistrates Court, which was granted on Friday 11 February.

“The premises is now closed pending the completion of a schedule of improvement works outlined by council officers, which must be completed before we will consider allowing the premises to reopen. The premises will be subject to reinspection and officers must be satisfied that the risks to public health have been adequately addressed.”