You’d think the restaurant at the 30-bedroom boutique Sanctum Soho Hotel, near Carnaby Street was a great choice for some private dining, given its positive review in Square Meal magazine, and its inclusion in the Square Meal list of the 30 Best Private Dining Rooms.

According to Square Meal the tasty offerings found at this “all about rock and roll” themed venue include pots of mussels with pints of beer, BBQ ribs, salt beef hash, shredded duck salad and home-made profiteroles with warm chocolate sauce. (yummy)

However health inspectors who visited the kitchens and food storerooms there last year found they stank of mouse urine, with mouse droppings littering the floor and work surfaces, and an obliging mouse that cheekily jumped out at them. Staff were not properly trained in food hygiene, the kitchen had no sink for washing hands and the top chef claimed that he thought the little black pieces of mouse poo were spices.

Operators Sanctum London, and their parent company Concept Venues were both held to be culpable and fined a total of £19,500 for offences relating to hygiene, infestation, staff training and protection of the public.