Fish & chip shop owner fined for fire safety breaches

The owner of the Beach Break Cafe fish and chip shop in Brighton has been fined £21,000 for failing to comply with fire safety regulations.

Brighton Magistrates Court heard how the property only had no emergency lighting and only one domestic smoke alarm, which was faulty.

Ms Coull also failed to carry out a fire risk assessment and had not provided her staff with any training on what to do in the event of a fire.

The breaches were only discovered after a fire broke out at the shop last year, causing firefighters to evacuate a number of neighbouring properties.

Richard Fowler, head of protection at East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said the £21,000 fine handed to Ms Coull reflects the “serious nature” of her offences.

“The public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety legislation very seriously,” he remarked.