A Fairfield cafe was immediately closed after environmental health officers found a live mouse behind a kitchen cooker and widespread evidence of rodent contamination. The business later admitted 12 food safety and hygiene offences and was ordered to pay £2,700.

Corner Cafe, on Prescot Road in Liverpool, was inspected by Liverpool City Council environmental health officers in June 2025 while operating as both a sit-in cafe and takeaway. Officers found the premises infested with mice, with droppings on and beneath cooking equipment and some in direct contact with food.

A live mouse was also discovered in a hole behind a cooker. Inspectors concluded that the business had not taken sufficient action to control the infestation despite continuing to serve customers.

Cafe Closed Over Health Risk

Council officers considered conditions sufficiently serious to present an imminent risk to health and immediately closed the cafe. Following that inspection, Corner Cafe received a food hygiene rating of zero, the lowest score under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and indicating urgent improvement was necessary.

The Food Standards Agency says pests can carry harmful bacteria and contaminate food, making effective pest control essential in food businesses.

Environmental health officers returned to Corner Cafe in November 2025 and again found evidence of rodent activity, including mouse droppings. They also identified accumulated grease and food debris behind equipment and discovered food nearly a week out of date.

Although inspectors did not consider conditions during the second visit to pose an imminent risk requiring another closure, the cafe was given a food hygiene rating of one, meaning major improvement was necessary.

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Cafe Admitted 12 Food Safety Breaches

The Corner Cafe Liverpool Limited pleaded guilty to 12 breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations at Liverpool Magistrates' Court in September 2026 and was sentenced on 29 October 2026.

The court ordered the company to pay £2,700. Food Standards Agency records list the premises at 137 Prescot Road with a hygiene rating of one following its 24 November 2025 inspection, with improvement required for cleanliness and major improvement required in food safety management.

Liverpool councillor Harry Doyle, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture, said food businesses have a legal duty to maintain hygiene standards and protect customers. He said the presence of mice, contamination and poor hygiene practices represented an unacceptable public health risk.

The council said enforcement action would be taken where businesses failed to meet their obligations and encouraged residents to check food hygiene ratings before deciding where to eat.

Food Poisoning Risk From Rodents

The council also warned that mice can carry pathogens associated with illnesses including Salmonella, Campylobacter and Listeria. The Food Standards Agency similarly warns that pests can transfer food-poisoning bacteria to food.

National Health Service (NHS) guidance states contaminated or improperly stored food can cause illnesses commonly linked to Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli and norovirus. Eating food after its use-by date is also identified by the NHS as one potential route to food poisoning.

Food poisoning commonly causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever and general illness, with symptoms beginning within hours or days of exposure.

Most people recover within a week, but vomiting and diarrhoea can cause dehydration, and older people, young children and people with weakened immune systems or other health conditions are at greater risk.

The NHS advises people to seek urgent medical help, such as contacting 111, for symptoms, including persistent vomiting, bloody diarrhoea or signs of dehydration that do not improve.

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