Company slapped with fine in court after Blackpool hotel found in vile state

The owner of a Blackpool hotel has been prosecuted for seven offences after discoveries made by food control officers.

Daish’s Blackpool Hotel Limited, the company responsible for Daish’s Blackpool Hotel - one of the largest hotels on the Promenade -, pleaded guilty to the offences at Preston Magistrates’ Court on 29 July.

The inspection happened on 31 August, 2023 and discovered a poor level of cleanliness, including dirt on the floor, equipment and shelving.

Cooking equipment was left greasy, food waste was discovered in the freezer and pans were bafflingly being stored across the floor.

Stagnant water was found in a container beneath the freezer after a leak.

Those with an allergy to gluten were at a contamination risk. A freezer labelled as ‘gluten free’ was found to be storing foods containing gluten.

And as a wider risk, electrical equipment showed damage to the wires, evidence of melting of an electrical socket and incorrect use of extension leads.

All of this led to the hotel being given a food hygiene rating of zero, which is below the acceptable legal threshold. The hotel currently holds a hygiene rating of four following a new inspection of 28 March, 2024.

The hotel was previously subject to a caution for food hygiene offences which was accepted in February 2022.

The company was ordered to pay a £14,000 fine, £2,000 victim surcharge and £2612.10 in costs.

Cllr Paula Burdess, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Street Scene and Neighbourhoods, said: “Our Food Control Officers were shocked by what they discovered during their inspection. The company was found to be flouting regulations put in place to keep the public safe, and the company has been successfully prosecuted. Such conduct will not be tolerated.

“We are pleased that the court imposed a fine which reflects the seriousness of the offences, and hopefully this will deter other businesses from operating in such a way that could put the public at risk.”

Paul Harper, commercial director for the company, issued an apology to any guests who found themselves concerned but said that he was disappointed that the council sought prosecution.

He said: “Daish’s Blackpool Hotel was re-inspected by Blackpool Council’s Food Safety & Hygiene team in April this year, receiving a hygiene rating of four.

“We were disappointed to learn that the council subsequently decided to seek prosecution for a historical zero rating which was given to the hotel in August 2023.

“Daish’s Holidays has a track record of achieving high-quality food standards across its group of hotels, and we were extremely dismayed that Daish’s Blackpool Hotel fell below the standard that we expect.”

“We took immediate steps to rectify the situation following the result of the 2023 inspection. This included actioning a deep clean in the kitchen over the course of three days, using additional staff resources from our other hotels to ensure swift completion to an exceptionally high standard.

“We also completely restructured our operations department as a result of an investigation into how the situation had occurred.

“I want to apologise to any guests who experienced concerns following the initial publication of the rating, and personally reassure everyone that our customary high standards have not wavered since our swift rectification of the issue.”

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