A bakery has been fined more than £34k after mouse droppings were found in the kitchen of its flagship location.
Ole and Steen, which operates more than 20 cafes across London, was found to have serious hygiene failings at its Haymarket branch.
Inspectors found evidence of a vermin infestation during a visit to the Danish bakery in January 2025, forcing the store to close for 48 hours.
Mouse activity was also found in food storage and preparation areas, with droppings found in various locations.
Officers also detected poor hygiene practices which risked cross-contamination.
The Haymarket branch has since been re-inspected and now has a food hygiene rating of four out of five, according to the Food Standards Agency.
The business had failed to take action to control pests despite having been warned by a contractor before the council inspection took place.
At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Ole and Steen pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a fine of £26,000 in addition to legal costs, leading to a total penalty of £34,847.
Westminster Council deputy leader Caroline Sargent said: ‘We expect the highest possible food hygiene standards for our residents and visitors, and we will not tolerate a half-baked approach to safety.
‘Our environmental health officers found a catalogue of serious failings, including mouse droppings in several locations and poor food hygiene practices, despite this branch receiving previous warnings.
‘We hope this prosecution will send a message that when it comes to public safety, Westminster City Council will not sugar-coat the facts.’
A spokesperson for Ole and Steen said: ‘In late 2024, the conditions at our St James’s Market store fell below the standard our customers expect and the standard we hold ourselves to.
‘We immediately closed the store to address the issue and re-opened two days later. WCC visited while we were taking action and this location has now been awarded 4 stars for hygiene and cleanliness. We remain committed to upholding the highest food safety and hygiene standards across all of our stores.’