The Britannia group has been hit with a £36,000 fine after management at one of its hotels in Stockport ignored repeated warnings over poor health and hygiene standards.

The company, which owns 33 hotels and employs more than 4,000 people, admitted a series of breaches of the food hygiene regulations at the 180 bed hotel in Offerton, during a hearing before Manchester Crown Court.

The court heard that health officers from Stockport council had found “filthy” kitchen and serving areas and food at risk of contamination.

The general manager and the chef at the hotel both resigned following the last inspection.

Michael Marten, group personnel and training manager at Britannia, said that kitchens at the hotel had now been upgraded.

"The Britannia Hotel, Stockport, regrets that standards slipped in October of last year,” he said. “There was no accusation of food poisoning, nor was there a danger to the health of our guests."

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By Andrew Smith

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