Dalston Vietnamese restaurant closed after rotting rat found in kitchen

A Vietnamese restaurant in London's Dalston has been closed after a hygiene inspection that reportedly found a rotting rat carcass under the oven.

Cu Tu, in Kingsland Road, was issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order by Stratford Magistrates Court on 29 April, which banned it from preparing or cooking food, according to the Evening Standard.

The inspection also allegedly found rat droppings in the restaurant, gnawed packaging on the floor, and dirt all over the kitchen.

The restaurant, which is said to be owned by T&H Restaurant Ltd, was also ordered to pay Hackney Council £620 in costs.

A corporate director for legal, HR and regulatory services at the council called the inspection findings "a serious breach of hygiene standards".

The restaurant's manager, Leo Nguyen, told local paper the Hackney Gazette that he accepted the facts. He said: "We can't hide it, but I want the best for the customer. I do agree with the council - it's unlucky to be shut down but we agree we need to be shut down to sort the problem out."

He added that the restaurant was now "blocking all the holes" and "fixing the problem".