Rat seen running around Wetherspoons pub

A rat, like this one, was caught on CCTV footage at the Waggon and Horses pub in Alfreton

Environmental health officers visited a Wetherspoons pub after a customer reported seeing a rat running "up and down" the venue while food and drinks were being served.

While at the Waggon and Horses in Alfreton, Derbyshire, in August, officials saw CCTV footage showing a rat running around chairs and tables used by customers.

Inspectors from Amber Valley Borough Council, which released the full inspection report on Friday in response to a Freedom of Information request, returned a few days later and found preventative measures had not been implemented.

JD Wetherspoon said the venue was voluntarily closed for cleaning and repairs and there had been no further pest activity.

The Waggon and Horses was closed for cleaning after the inspection

Two officials from Amber Valley Borough Council made an unannounced visit to the King Street pub on 1 August, the day of the customer's complaint.

Their subsequent report revealed CCTV was seen "showing a rat running across the carpet from the stairwell by the coffee machine then jumping up on a chair".

The report also said a rat's head was seen "poking through the back of the chair" before scuttling out of sight along the floor.

Another clip captured a rat "running across the carpet" while further footage showed a pest by the pub's inside patio doors.

Inspectors also found dirty and greasy kitchen equipment at the pub

A visit by the council's environmental health officers three days later found rat issues were "ongoing" and the preventative measures identified on their first visit had not been implemented.

A full inspection of the venue revealed gnawed carpet in the seating and stair area and a hole in the stairway skirting board, large enough for a rodent to pass though.

A broken plastic switch cover on a deep fat fryer, an unattached castor and others congealed with grease, and hanging, dusty wires were found.

Officers also noted hygiene and maintenance issues including dirty and stained surfaces, chemical storage areas, equipment, and fixtures such as sinks and switches.

The pub's food hygiene rating was reviewed and it was given a score of two, meaning some improvement is necessary.

JD Wetherspoon agreed to voluntarily shut the venue for cleaning and repairs.

A spokesperson for the pub chain told the BBC it had taken action as a result of the inspection "using specialist contractors".

They said the pub had closed on 4 August and reopened two days later after council inspectors "confirmed that the necessary action had been taken to address the problem and that there was no further activity seen".

They said: "There has been no pest sighting in the pub since that time.

"At no stage was there any activity identified in the kitchen of the pub and prior to the recent food hygiene rating, the pub enjoyed a five star rating since July 2019."