THE former owner of a wine bar in Nailsea has been ordered to pay £5,000 for failing to comply with food safety legislation.

Anthony Thatcher, who used to run The Courtyard Wine Bar in Nailsea’s High Street, pleaded not guilty to two charges relating to the failure to implement a food safety management system at his business at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court on January 27.

All businesses are required by law to have a food safety management system in place which is designed to identify risks and hazards, define critical limits and to implement controls so these limits are not exceeded.

The system ensures all employees work within set standards and it helps to prevent standards from dropping to a point where food safety is compromised.

Despite the support and advice offered to Mr Thatcher over several months by environmental health officers from the council’s food and safety team, he failed to implement a system at his business and North Somerset Council took legal action.

Mr Thatcher was found guilty of failing to put in place a food management system at his business and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 in council costs.

He was found not guilty of the second charge of failing to comply with a hygiene improvement notice, also related to implementing a food safety system. Mr Thatcher maintained he had not received the notice.

Cllr Peter Bryant, North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for food safety, said: “We will continue to offer support to all businesses to help them comply with food safety standards, but will not hesitate to take legal action against those food business operators who demonstrate a wilful non-compliance with food safety law and who put the public at risk.”