Popular pizza chain with more than 70 stores closes down ‘dirty’ restaurant after tourist spots MICE ‘running free’
A POPULAR pizza chain shut down one of its restaurants after a disgusted tourist spotted mice "running free" in the venue.
Franco Manca closed its outlet in Oxford temporarily after American visitor Ashley Mohammed spotted the creatures inside the "dirty" restaurant.
The chain, which operates more than 70 stores, said it was "deeply sorry" for the situation and shut the restaurant in order to "conduct a full investigation".
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Ashley explained how she noticed the floor looked dirty where other diners were seated.
The terrified tourist then spotted the mice "crawling over feet" as she finished her meal.
Ashley says she was shocked by what she saw and was confused by people seemingly being unfazed by the mice running across the restaurant and into the kitchen.
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The 25-year-old law student claims she was told by the manager that the mice infestation was normal for England, after her sister raised concerns over the sightings.
Ashley explained: "We were both shocked that as I spoke to the manager, mice continued to crawl under the tables.
"I was disgusted to find out that the manager, staff, and owner were all aware of the mice infestation - yet they continued to serve guests."
Ashley lives in California but had recently travelled to the UK to visit her sister who studies at Richmond American University London.
The pair had chosen to take a day trip to Oxford on Saturday, later deciding to dine at Franco Manca.
Although Ashley has now returned home to California, she said both her and her sister had been unwell since eating the meal.
She explained they were both "dizzy and nauseous" while on the train journey back to London.
Now, back in the US, Ashley claims she has been vomiting any food she eats and has visited her doctor as a result.
She said she was "traumatised" by the experience and hopes others would not have to go through the same pain she has.
Franco Manca confirmed the venue had to be shut following the "isolated incident" and said it was "deeply sorry" for what happened.
A spokesperson for the chain told The Sun: "Ensuring our customers feel welcome, safe, and valued is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining the highest standards in our restaurants.
"This was an isolated incident and we are deeply sorry for this, including the initial response by team members and are working hard to make things right.
"The restaurant in question holds a 5 star Food Hygiene Rating and regularly conducts preventative pest control routines, however as soon as we became aware of the complaint, we voluntarily closed the restaurant to conduct a full investigation."
The spokesperson explained the restaurant's "specialist" pest control team had carried out a "full review" of the premises and was taking "every possible step" to ensure the situation does not arise again.
How to report a food safety or hygiene issue
You can report any problems with restaurants or food shops to the local authority where the business is located.
This includes food problems restaurants as well as any concerns about an item purchased or food ordered online.
The local authority food safety team will then consider the complaint and determine the most appropriate course of action.
You can find out the contact details of the relevant food safety team by using the Food Standard Agency's (FSA) service.
What can you report:
- Suspected food poisoning
- A foreign object found in your food
- Dirty premises
- Poor hand hygiene
- Poor food handling
- Food with visible signs of mould or decay
- Food sold past its use-by date
- Unavailable or incorrect allergen information
If you have any complaints about poor-quality food and customer service, the FSA advises you speak directly to the businesses or ordering platform.
This includes if you have problems with payments and refunds or if you have a late, incorrect, or missing takeaway delivery.
You can check all your consumer rights by visiting the Citizens Advice website.
They added: "The restaurant has now reopened following the completion of a satisfactory visit from our specialists."
This comes just days after footage showed a number of large rats swarming around a popular McDonald's restaurant.
The rodents could be seen leaping around behind the busy eatery in Archway, North London.
Video obtained by The Sun showed the pests scaling a wall where restaurant deliveries are taken.
One local resident said more than a dozen "big and small" rats were seen crawling out of bins.
She said: "They were massive. The rats didn't seem scared of people at all.
"They were swarming everywhere. It's sickening. They were spilling out onto the pavement.
"I was going for a burger and I spotted them. I didn't fancy it afterwards, it was grim."
Pest control experts are believed to have visited the fast food giant after the sighting on March 5.
The rats were seen behind McDonald's and close to a Premier Inn hotel, witnesses said.
A McDonald’s spokeswoman said: “Cleanliness and hygiene are of the utmost importance to us.
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"This issue relates to the waste storage area outside of our restaurant where our neighbours are currently undertaking building work.
"As soon as it was brought to our attention we contacted our pest prevention partner, as well as our neighbouring businesses, to take immediate action.”