Published: Tuesday 17 June 2025
The former operator of renowned former-Notting Hill restaurant Beach Blanket Babylon has been ordered to pay a total of £31,000 for serious breaches of food and hygiene legislation. This includes a £7,000 fine, £2,000 victim surcharge and the Council’s legal costs of £22,000.
Infestations of cockroaches, mice and rats
Conor George Thomson-Moore, who appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday 16 June, previously pleaded guilty to four charges related to poor food hygiene, contamination of food with mouse droppings, poor cleaning, inadequate pest control procedures and failure to comply with a Hygiene Improvement Notice.
Sentencing
District Judge Clarke said, “This was probably one of the egregious cases I have seen” and banned Mr Conor Thomson-Moore from operating a food business for ten years under Reg 7 (subsection 4) of the Food Hygiene England Regulations.
Kensington and Chelsa Council food safety officers brought the prosecution after discovering infestations of cockroaches, mice and rats during inspections at the restaurant, at 45 Ledbury Road, between September 2022 and March 2023.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for environment and planning said:
“Kensington and Chelsea is home to a vibrant and growing food scene, visited and enjoyed by many.
“We support our local businesses, but we also take food safety seriously. Our officers work with businesses to ensure high standards are maintained that our residents and visitors expect and deserve.
“This prosecution shows our commitment to being a safe and fair borough and we won’t hesitate to act against those businesses who don’t play by the rules.”
What officers found during inspections?
Issues discovered by officers in September 2022 include droppings around the premises, food contaminated with mice faeces and packets of till white seeds, cocoa powder and flaked almonds gnawed by mice.
A further inspection in February 2023 found there was no hot water and further issues with pest control. Officers served Hygiene Improvement Notices, but the food business operators failed to comply with one of the notices for lack of hot water to a wash hand basin.
Prosecution case
Kensington and Chelsea Council officers brought the case against food business operators Conor George Thomson-Moore and Robert Newmark following inspections and enforcement actions taken by food safety officers for pest control issues, serious offence of unsafe food, poor attitude towards food hygiene law and compliance at the former restaurant. The charges against Robert Newmark were withdrawn at a previous hearing in April this year.