The pests restaurants face
- Mice living behind kitchen equipment, in ceiling voids and in dry stores
- Rats around bin stores, rear yards, basements and drains
- German cockroaches in warm places such as dishwashers, fridge motors and cooker hoods
- Flies, including fruit flies around bars and drain flies in floor gullies
- Stored product insects in flour, rice, spices and dry goods
Why kitchens attract pests
Restaurants give pests everything they need: food, water, warmth and places to hide. Older South London buildings add their own problems, with shared walls, basements, old drain runs and service ducts that link one unit to the next on a high street parade. That is why a restaurant can get mice even when its own kitchen is spotless.
What we do
- Inspection of kitchens, stores, bars, basements, bin areas and drains, before or after service
- Treatment using bait stations outside and in non-food areas, traps, and gel baits for cockroaches in cracks and equipment voids, kept away from food and prep surfaces
- Proofing of gaps around pipes, behind equipment and under doors
- Housekeeping advice for staff, covering cleaning schedules, waste and deliveries
- Written reports after each visit for your food safety management records
Food hygiene inspections
Environmental Health Officers check for signs of pests and for evidence that you have effective pest control. Evidence of pests can lower your food hygiene rating, and a serious infestation can lead to an emergency closure. Our reports show what was found, what was done and what you need to do, which is exactly what an inspector wants to see. Read more in our guide to pest control law for food businesses.
Regular visits
Most restaurants are best protected by a pest control contract with scheduled visits and monitoring. If you have a problem now, we can start with a one-off visit and move to a contract later.
Questions and answers
Can you visit before we open?
Yes. We can often arrange early visits so treatment happens before food preparation starts.
Will treatments contaminate food?
No. We use bait stations, traps and targeted gel baits placed away from food and prep surfaces, and we tell staff what to cover or move.
We share a building with other businesses. Can you help?
Yes. In shared buildings we look for routes between units and can talk to your landlord or neighbours about joint treatment.
What records will we get?
A written visit report covering findings, treatments, products used and recommendations, which you can keep with your food safety records.
Related pages
- Takeaway & café pest control
- Cockroach control
- Mouse control
- Pest control law for food businesses
- Pest control contracts
This page is general information, last reviewed on 19 October 2026. It is not a substitute for an on-site inspection.