Inside the filthy Bolton bakery where rats and mice ran free everywhere and left droppings all around
Hygiene inspectors found rat and mouse droppings ‘throughout the premises’ when visiting a bakery in Bolton – saying rodents had ‘access to all areas’.
Officials attending June’s Homebake on St Helen’s Road described ‘filthy conditions’ and ‘very poor cleaning’ in their most recent report.
The report said ‘months of food waste at wall and floor junctions throughout the unit’ was found during the inspection.
The Bolton council food business intervention report was obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The report, by the council’s food and health and safety team, dated May 12, 2025, gave June’s Homebake a hygiene rating of zero out of five.
This week, management at the business claimed that since the May inspection they have obtained a three-star hygiene rating – but there is currently no evidence of this.
On October 23, the Food Standards Agency website, which publishes hygiene ratings, states that June’s Homebake presently has a zero hygiene rating, which indicates ‘urgent improvement necessary’.
That listing states the most recent inspection was May 12 this year.
In the section outlining contraventions of food safety, the report states: “Inspection suspended due to finding rat and mouse droppings throughout the premises.
“Filthy, unclean structure, fabric and appliances. Cross contamination risk from rodents’ access to all areas.
“You bought potatoes ‘at a price’, they are decaying, sprouting. Throw out, unfit food.”
In the section outlining contraventions of cleaning, the report, said: “Extremely aged structure with little investment. Walls, floors, ceilings should be smooth, impervious.
“Months of food waste at wall and floor junctions throughout the unit – clean, remove. Supply commercial gas safety certificates for appliances.”
The report also identified ‘no food management system’ and stated rat droppings were ‘easily observed’ in the garage and lean-to areas of the premises.
A fire risk was also found due to ‘blocked means of escape’.
June’s Homebake declined to comment on the inspection’s findings when contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.