Prosecutions

Breaches at the restaurant included the staff using the top floors as unauthorised sleeping accommodation.  The offences came to light following a fire and subsequent investigation at the property on 6 November 2009.

Appearing at Gloucester Magistrates Court on 17 June, the owner was also ordered to pay out another £1,500 in costs plus a £15 surcharge, in addition to the £1,900 in fines.

Investigators found that the ground floor partition and glazing between the restaurant and escape route were not fire resisting, and neither was the ground floor door between the restaurant and escape route.

Employees were not provided with fire safety training, nor had a fire risk assessment been completed.

There were also no fire alarm and smoke detectors fitted in the accommodation, and emergency lighting was not provided in the sleeping accommodation escape route.

The walls of the staircase enclosure had been lined with laminate wood flooring, three bedroom doors on the first floor were not fire resisting, a kitchen was situated within the second floor escape route and the second floor laundry room door was not fire resisting.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue service, said: "If a fire risk assessment had been carried out, it would have identified the measures required to make the premises safe such as a fire alarm, emergency lighting, fire doors and staff training."