A Penrith pub has reopened to customers today after a rat forced its closure over the Bank Holiday weekend, it has been confirmed.
The Dog Beck, on Southend Road, Penrith, “voluntarily” closed after the discovery was made, with it missing out on the long weekend trade.
A spokesman for Wetherspoon confirmed to the Herald: “Further to discussions with Westmorland and Furness Council’s Environmental Health team last Thursday, after concerns were raised about a rodent accessing part of the pub, the pub was voluntarily closed whilst the issue was addressed.
“The pub, which has had a five-star food hygiene rating since 2014, reopened this afternoon (Monday) as the Environmental Health Officer is now satisfied that the necessary remedial action to prevent a reoccurrence has been put in place.”
Rats can produce between 15 and 100 young each year. Experts have warned this week that rats are becoming immune to rodenticides and numbers in the UK have been estimated at as many as 300 million.
There are also reports that rats are becoming “obese” due to thriving on takeaway leftovers up and down Britain’s high streets.
