A fast-food outlet in Uxbridge has been fined more than £16,000 after a council inspection uncovered filthy conditions and serious food safety risks.
Hutt Grill Ltd, trading as Hutt Grills, of Cowley Mill Road, was prosecuted by Hillingdon Council after officers found dirty equipment, broken fridges, and dangerously poor food handling practices during a routine inspection in March 2024.
Appearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (13 May), the company admitted seven breaches of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. It was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in victim surcharges and £6,491.20 in prosecution costs.
Inspectors discovered unhygienic kitchen areas, day-old rubbish, broken cold storage units — including a freezer running at 30°C — and no evidence that cleaning products were being used. Staff were unable to demonstrate safe food temperature checks, producing dirty thermometers with no way to sanitise them.
The premises were rated zero for food hygiene, requiring urgent improvement. The council issued multiple hygiene notices and the business temporarily closed.
However, during a follow-up visit in July, officers found food being prepared despite the premises lacking hot water, disinfectants, or soap. Staff admitted the water had been off for several days, again posing a serious risk to public health. The takeaway closed voluntarily a second time.
Hutt Grills accepted the severity of the offences and expressed deep regret.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: “All businesses serving food have a legal responsibility to uphold basic standards of cleanliness and training for staff, and neglecting to do so will not be tolerated.
“Our food health and safety team works hard to regularly inspect businesses and support them to make improvements, but we will not hesitate to intervene and take action if we find any that are not following regulations and putting their customers at risk of serious harm.”
