Obstructed fire exits, defective emergency lighting and the absence of a working fire alarm, were amongst the faults found during the inspection of the Chichester, West Sussex branch of the Wildwood restaurant chain.

Other breaches include dangerous electrics and a fire risk assessment that take no account of ongoing building work on the second floor of the property where staff were sleeping.

The chain has been fined more than £13,000 and ordered to pay almost £2000 in costs at Worthing Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to four charges under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The county fire and rescue service carried out the inspection after receiving a complaint from a customer of the restaurant.

A prohibition order was immediately served, preventing anyone from sleeping on the premises.

Richard Bradley, Business Fire Safety Manager for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said, “The property was being refurbished and the building work had overrun. The company made the decision to open the restaurant, even though the fire alarm was not working and there were a number of serious fire safety issues. 

“This is putting people’s lives at risk for the sake of profit and that simply isn’t acceptable.”

He added that Wildwood have rectified all the faults.

Original source

West Sussex County Council