A CELEBRITY chef’s restaurant has “voluntarily closed” following a “serious cockroach infestation”.
The council has said the issue “poses an imminent risk of injury to health”.
The restaurant, located in Oxford, was served with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice on November 11 after evidence of a serious cockroach infestation was discovered, reports the Oxford Mail .
According to the paper, the notice warns of the risk of contamination to both food and surfaces, which could result in poisoning for customers.
The notice was issued by Oxford City Council and states that the premises “poses an imminent risk of injury to health”.
The restaurant will remain until the council believes the risk has been removed and issues a certificate allowing it to reopen.
City Council said: “Food Safety Officers from the Business Regulation Team at Oxford City Council served a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice due to an imminent risk to public health. Six By Nico is closed.
“The council will now apply to the magistrates’ court for the issue of a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order. The notice was issued due to a infestation.
“The council will not hesitate to act to prevent imminent risk to public health, holding food businesses to account if they fail to comply with food hygiene standards.”
A Six by Nico spokesperson said: “Food safety and hygiene are central to how we run every Six by Nico restaurant. As soon as a pest issue was identified in Oxford, we voluntarily closed the restaurant and engaged external experts. Their advice has been followed in full.
“Alongside this, we have done everything we possibly can, while keeping Oxford City Council’s environmental health team informed at every stage.
“We believe there has been a serious misunderstanding in communications with the Council which we are working to clarify. We are taking legal advice and hope to resolve the matter soon.
“The restaurant will remain closed until further notice, and we are confident it is ready to reopen. Everyone with a booking is being contacted directly.”
Six by Nico was founded by chef Nico Simeone in in 2017.
The chain now operates more than a dozen sites, including London Fitzrovia, Birmingham, Leeds, and Edinburgh.
