Dead mouse and poo pictured in Oxford takeaway

Shocking images of Peppers Burgers in Walton Street have been exclusively uncovered by this newspaper.

Taken by hygiene inspectors on March 31, they show the disgusting standards of the bosses and workers at the time of the visit.

The dead mouse was found lay on top of a black bin bag, surrounded by mouse droppings, behind a chest freezer in the storeroom next to the kitchen.

Smear marks on pipework beneath sinks at Peppers Burgers, Oxford (Image: Oxford City Council)

Peppers Burgers in Walton Street, Oxford (Image: Matthew Evans)

Mouse droppings around a pizza oven at peppers Burgers, Oxford. (Image: Oxford City Council)

Smear marks on the kitchen floor and by the expandable foam. (Image: Oxford City Council)

Gaps in Peppers Burgers which would let rodents pass through (Image: Oxford City Council)

Other images show attempts by the owner to pest proof gaps in the building with expandable foam.

But on the foam is rodent smear marks and gaps of “sufficient size” for rodents to pass around the edges of he suspended timber kitchen floor.

Further smear marks can be seen on the pipework below preparation room sinks and droppings on the floor beneath the sinks.

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There are also pictures showing mouse droppings under the pizza oven.

Shockingly, mouse droppings were also on the shelf used to store wrapping paper for takeaway food meaning it would have come into contact with ready to eat food, inspectors said.

Gaps in Peppers Burgers which would let rodents pass through (Image: Oxford City Council)

Dead mouse circled and large amounts of mouse droppings behind chest freezer of Peppers Burgers, Oxford. (Image: Oxford City Council)

Smear marks on pipework beneath sinks at Peppers Burgers, Oxford (Image: Oxford City Council)

The eatery, which was formerly described as a “rite of passage” for new arrivals in Oxford, was shut down on March 31.

But documents released by the hygiene inspectors show the takeaway still open and customers being served one evening despite being asked “immediately” to cease trading.

Ryan Cobb, principal lead officer for food safety at Oxford City Council, described the burger bar as being an “imminent risk to health” after what was found inside.

He said: “No food safe sanitiser or food safe disinfectant were found in the premises to remove pathogenic bacteria carried by mice.

“There is an imminent risk of contamination of food, food packing, food contact surfaces and food equipment which is likely to result in food poisoning and transmission of many other communicable disease.”

This newspaper has also uncovered there were concerns about Peppers Burgers by Oxford City Council in January 2024, when hygiene officials paid a visit.

At the time, an open tub of mayonnaise was on the same shelf in the fridge as cooked chicken thighs and raw burgers.

And in a second chiller, prepared salad was stored alongside more raw burgers.

The inspectors expressed concern and a lack of confidence in the management of Peppers Burgers.

During a visit in 2024, Food Standards Agency gave Peppers Burgers just one-out-of-five on its overall standards – a rating described as ‘major improvement’ needed.