Busy event days, riverside surroundings and shared industrial units all bring their own pest risks. A cafe or pub needs a plan that fits its location.
Colwick sits east of the city in Gedling borough, with housing and industrial areas close to the River Trent, plus Nottingham Racecourse and Colwick Park nearby. For a food business, that mix matters. Open land and the riverside bring rats, and units on industrial sites can be set among yards, bins and storage where pests thrive.
Venues near an event site tend to have peaks of trade followed by quiet periods. On busy days, bin areas overflow, doors stay open and deliveries pile up. When trade drops, food residue left behind attracts pests that have been drawn in during the rush. A plan has to cover both extremes, not just the tidy weekday.
First, a survey of the premises inside and out, noting entry points, food storage, waste handling and any evidence of activity. Second, a written report listing what needs fixing and by when. Third, regular visits to monitor and treat, with records kept on site. This gives you evidence of due diligence if an environmental health officer visits.
Treatments should be chosen to fit a food environment. Baits and traps are placed where they cannot contaminate food, and staff should be told where they are so they are not moved or removed.
If your premises flood or are close to the river, ask what drainage checks have been done. Damaged or disused drains can give rats a route straight into the building, and a quick camera survey will often show up the problem before it becomes a sighting in the dining area.
Event weeks are a good time to add an extra check. A short visit beforehand and a tidy-up afterwards cost little compared with the damage a bad review can do.
Close doors and screens during service, cover and clear bins at the end of each session, and wipe down and sweep behind equipment. Store food off the floor in sealed containers, rotate stock and inspect deliveries. A simple pest log by the back door, with names and dates, turns good intentions into a record.
Landlords of multi-unit sites should be part of the conversation. A neighbouring unit with a problem can affect you, so shared yards and waste areas need agreed rules.
Our commercial division offers free surveys and a free written inspection report, and we work around your opening hours. Call 0115 937 5117 to arrange a visit.
You can do either, but a regular plan is better for a food business because activity is spotted early and records are kept. Calling only after a sighting often means the problem is already established.
Rats, mice, cockroaches, flies and stored-product beetles are the usual ones. Which you meet depends on the building, location and how food and waste are handled.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
