Steven Gerrard’s bar fined £20,000 after it was ‘infested by mice’

A bar part-owned by Steven Gerrard is in a “precarious financial position”, a court heard after it was fined £20,000 because of a mouse infestation.

The Vincent Cafe & Cocktail Bar in Liverpool city centre was prosecuted by the city council after inspectors spotted a live rodent and droppings in 2016.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard today that the company made losses of £150,000 in each of the past three financial years and owes money to HMRC, report the Liverpool Echo.

The company pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013 last month after inspectors found unclean floor surfaces and holes in the walls allowing access to pests.

District judge Wendy Lloyd, passing sentence, said: “There’s a consistent thread throughout these types of cases. The smart, glossy public area gives a false impression.

“Behind the scenes is just as important, but is not given the correct priority by those in charge.”

Johnathan Ball, prosecuting, said environmental health officers carried out an unannounced inspection at the bar on December 7, 2016.

He said inspectors found evidence of mouse droppings on the floors of both the main kitchen and sushi kitchens of the restaurant, while food debris displayed a “lack of routine cleaning”.

Judge Lloyd said: “Cooking can cure these sorts of things but raw food presents a danger.”

Mr Ball said officers also observed a live mouse moving across the floor of the kitchen before disappearing behind a gap in the wall.

He said: “Officers concluded their inspection at this stage. However, they were clearly concerned by the pest activity and the deficiencies in routine cleaning in high risk areas of the premises.”

The court heard the officers informed management that they intended to seek an emergency prohibition notice to close Vincent, but management agreed voluntarily to close it immediately.

The court heard the company imposed improved cleaning procedures and the venue was allowed to re-open five days later.

Gary Lewis, defending, said: “There was no contamination on surfaces used for food preparation or food storage, and there have been no injuries or ill-health arising from the breaches.”

He added: “This business is in a precarious financial position, in particular with the HMRC debt, I ask you to take that into account.

“The guiding principle is the fine should not be so high as to put the company out of business.”

Judge Lloyd said: “It was clear procedures were not being followed. Boxes were ticked, systems were in place but the reality here was it did not create a clean environment.

“What was needed was more attention to detail rather than attention to paperwork.”

Judge Lloyd ordered the company to pay £2,488 prosecution costs on top of the fine.

Mr Lewis asked for the company to be allowed to pay the fines and costs at a rate of £1,000 per month.

Former Reds skipper Mr Gerrard opened the bar as a silent partner to Paul Adams in 2015.

Speaking after a previous hearing, a Vincent spokesman said: “The case relates to a historic incident from 2016 which was dealt with immediately. We now have a brand new team of chefs and a strong management team.”

In February it was revealed that one-big spending Scouser took full advantage of the Deliveroo app – and spent a whopping £1,522 on a takeaway from the Vincent.

They said it was the biggest order they’ve ever had, and this is why it was so expensive…

This is what they had for dinner:

2 large sashimi sharing platers – £68 (£34 each)

1 Vincent ‘tempura’ sushi special costing £8

4 8oz premium fillet steaks – £118 (£29.50 each)

2 sides of buttered spinach – £14 (£7 each)

2 sides of honey glazed carrots – £14 (£7 each)

2 side of battered onion rings – £14 (£7 each)

This was the dessert

2 cheeseboards – £40 (£20 each)

2 caramel, marshmallow and chocolate dessert platters – £46 (£23 each)

And of course the obligatory…

3 bottles of vintage French Krug champagne – £1,200 (£400 per bottle)