Durham premises in court over hygiene and licence breaches

The operators of Lebanese restaurant chain Lebaneat have been ordered to pay more than £16,000 after environmental health and licensing officers uncovered severe food hygiene failures, unregistered business activity and right‑to‑work breaches at two County Durham sites.

Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard that inspections at the North Bailey restaurant in Durham City and a warehouse in Meadowfield revealed rodent droppings, inadequate cleaning, contamination risks and a dead rat. Both premises were closed voluntarily until urgent remedial work was completed.

During the North Bailey visit, officers were told the operator had changed from O&A International Limited to Lebaneat (Yarm) Limited, but this had not been registered with the council. Licensing officers also found that staff training records had not been updated for two years, and Home Office checks confirmed two employees had no legal right to work.

Lebaneat (Yarm) Limited and O&A International Limited were each fined £4,800, with a £1,920 victim surcharge and £850 in costs, totalling £15,140. Director Oksana Sayed was found guilty of multiple offences across both premises and ordered to pay a further £1,164. Licence holder Ahmed Sayed was convicted of failing to carry out right‑to‑work checks and failing to ensure staff received required training.

Mark Anslow, the council’s health and environmental protection manager, said the conditions posed a serious risk to public health and stressed that food businesses must comply with hygiene and licensing laws. He added that the authority would continue to take robust enforcement action where standards fall short.