Rat-infested Wimbledon cafe closed down
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
A rat-infested cafe in Wimbledon has been shut down to protect people from food poisoning and Weil’s disease.
The Brazilian café prepared food, including salads, meat and rice dishes, in a kitchen riddled with rat droppings.
Merton council’s environmental health officers visited Brazacus Point Café in Merton High Street on May 18 after a complaint from a neighbour about rubbish piled up at the back of the building.
They found “extensive rat activity” in the kitchen, including droppings in the food preparation area.
Inspectors found kitchen equipment stored on the floor and also contaminated with droppings. There was also nowhere for staff to wash their hands.
To make matters worse, the café had not registered with the council as a food business. The infestation posed an “imminent risk to public health” and the café was closed down immediately.
Inspectors were concerned about potential food poisoning and infection by bacteria which can cause salmonella and Weil’s disease.
The decision to shut down the businesses was formalised at Wimbledon Magistrates Court a week later.
Councillor Eleanor Stringer, cabinet member for civic pride, said: “The sort of diseases which can be transmitted by vermin, such as rats, in a kitchen have serious, life-threatening ramifications for unwitting customers.
“I commend the swift action of the Food & Safety team in helping keep the borough safe and for enforcing regulations which clamp down on unscrupulous establishments that don’t play by the rules.”
A post on the cafe’s Instagram page read: “Good morning friends and clients. I hereby inform you that we will be closed for maintenance. Thank you in advance for everyone’s understanding. We will have news.”
There was no answer on the only telephone number available for the closed café.
Pictured top: Brazucas Point Cafe (Picture: Merton council)