News Walthamstow

Popular Walthamstow restaurant shut down over ‘cockroach infestation’

The popular restaurant has been featured in “best of” lists in the Evening Standard and Eater
By Waltham Forest Echo

Etles Uyghur in Hoe Street (credit: Google Streetview)
Etles Uyghur in Hoe Street (credit: Google Streetview)

A popular restaurant in Walthamstow’s Hoe Street has been shut down after failing a food hygiene inspection.

Etles Uyghur has been praised the Evening Standard and Eater and is one of few restaurants in London serving Uyghur cuisine, which originates in the predominantly Muslim area of Xinjiang in northern China.

The restaurant was inspected on 8th June by Waltham Forest Council officers and abuptly shut down after cockroaches and a “general lack of cleanliness” were discovered.

Credit: WF Council

On 14th June, Thames Magistrates Court granted a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order, forbidding Etles from reopening until the problems are fixed, and ordered the restaurant to pay the council £1,009.

Councillor Khevyn Limbajee, cabinet member of community safety, said: “These images demonstrate a clear disregard for the safety of customers and as a result we have had no choice but to order the immediate closure of the restaurant.

“Regular inspections are intended to give businesses the opportunity to improve food safety standards and the vast majority take their responsibilities seriously.

“While the council’s powers are limited, we will not hesitate to remove any risk to public health where necessary.”

Credit: WF Council

Owned by chefs Mukaddes Yadikar and her husband Ablikim Rahman, Etles Uyghur opened a second location in Finchley Road in 2019, which earned a food hygiene rating of 1 last December.

The Hoe Street premises will remain closed until the infestation is treated and other cleaning and structural problems are fixed.

Council officers will then carry out a food safety reassessment before it is allowed to reopen.


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