A city centre convenience store was forced to close for 10 days after an inspection found “rat holes” inside.
SKA William Henry Food and Wine has been slapped with a zero rating following an investigation by environmental health officers from Liverpool Council last month. A spokesperson for the William Henry Street shop admitted to the ECHO that the business was required to close as a result of the findings when officials visited in April.
A total of three visits have been made to the shop, with the inspection report made available by the Food Standards Agency revealing that “major improvement” was necessary in all facets of the business. This included the hygienic food handling at the premises as well as the condition and cleanliness of the building.
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The city centre shop opens from 7am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, with a later opening of 9am on Sundays. It sells groceries, milk and bread as well as offering Payzone services, National Lottery, alcohol and cigarettes.
A spokesperson for SKA William Henry Food and Wine said on the first visit, inspectors told the staff to close for one day to “face up” the stock. It was then said that on a second occasion “rat holes” and rat faeces were found in the store and the spokesperson said the business closed for 10 days as a result.
A third inspection was conducted and the spokesperson said all corrections advised by Liverpool Council officers had been made. The Food Standards Agency report revealed that management of food safety also required major improvement, in relating to the shop’s “system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future.”
The spokesperson for SKA William Henry Food and Wine said: “We were disappointed” by the findings and admitted it would take time “for things to get back to normal” with customers. It is expected that the shop will receive a new rating in due course having had a third inspection following the 10-closure period.
