A pizza shop in Stockport has been forced to pay more than £13,000 after environmental health officers discovered a severe cockroach infestation and unsanitary conditions during an inspection in January 2025.
The inspection at Pizza Roma on Castle Street revealed cockroaches at all lifecycle stages throughout the premises, including in the sink, on the floors, and even inside the ice cream machine. Officers also found chicken left out at room temperature, suggesting there was no effective food safety management system in place.
Stockport Council prosecuted the business, which was charged with 11 food hygiene offences in November. The offences included failing to design and maintain the premises to prevent pest infestation, store food and wrapping materials safely, keep the premises and equipment clean and in good repair, supervise and train food handlers, register the food business, and maintain adequate pest control.
Councillor Dan Oliver said the conditions at Pizza Roma were “completely unacceptable and represented a serious risk to public health.” He added that the prosecution “demonstrates our commitment to ensuring food businesses meet rigorous hygiene standards and that customers can trust the safety of the food they buy.”
Pizza Roma was ordered to pay £12,234, including a fine of £2,667, a victim surcharge of £1,067, and costs of £8,500. Touseef Tajammul, 25, was also ordered to pay £1,253, including a fine of £538, a victim surcharge of £215, and costs of £500.
The business undertook a voluntary closure for one week in January 2025 and reopened on 7 February 2025 after a full deep clean, completing remedial works, and appointing a pest control contractor to address the infestation. The premises were re-rated on 8 April 2025, achieving a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Stockport Council said the business “carried out a full deep clean, completed remedial works, and appointed a pest control contractor to address the infestation.” Officers permitted the business to reopen once these actions had removed the imminent risk to health.
