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Gravity indoor trampoline park at Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre in Maidstone given one-star food hygiene rating

A family attraction has been slammed with a one-star food hygiene rating after inspectors found a mouse infestation and “horrendous” smells in the kitchen.

Hygiene inspectors visited Gravity indoor trampoline park at Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre in Maidstone and found food stored on the floor, dirty surfaces and mouse droppings “throughout the premises”.

Mouse droppings on the floor at Gravity
Mouse droppings on the floor at Gravity

The attraction serves food for customers and offers party food as part of it’s “VIB” (very important bouncers) packages for children’s birthdays - with a going rate of £20.95 per person for one hour on the trampolines, food, and hot or cold drinks for parents and carers.

The menu includes meals such as burgers, chicken nuggets, tortilla chips, burgers, hot dogs, chips and desserts.

“At the time of inspection I noted a packet of open hotdogs were being stored on the floor of the small undercounter fridge in the main kitchen,” the Maidstone borough council inspector wrote.

“The internal surface of the fridge was dirty with lots of food debris.

“During the inspection I noted that there was widespread mice infestation, with droppings throughout the premises.

The grease trap in Gravity's kitchen
The grease trap in Gravity's kitchen

“A food premises must be kept clean and maintained in good repair and condition.

“The general standard of cleaning at these premises is unsatisfactory.

“The kitchen needs to be thoroughly cleaned including all floor, walls and surfaces.”

So rife was the infestation that “there was a risk that some of the disposable packaging such as plastic cups, ice cream pots and wooden spoons could become contaminated with mice droppings”.

“Droppings were noted on packaging, and surfaces where these were stored,” the inspector added.

Wooden units in the slushy room were described as "not suitable in a food business" by inspectors
Wooden units in the slushy room were described as "not suitable in a food business" by inspectors

The inspector did note however “You have had a pest control contractor visit the site to carry out intense treatments.

“You need to ensure that you continue to keep on top of the cleaning.

“Prevent access to food sources and carry our pest proofing where necessary.”

Describing the kitchen, the inspector continued: “In the main kitchen there is a grease trap/ wastewater filter.

“The smell of stagnant water in the kitchen was horrendous.

Mouse droppings at Gravity, Maidstone
Mouse droppings at Gravity, Maidstone

“The unit has a drawer with stinking water and a blue box on top that contained food debris.

“When I spoke to the manager, he said that this was serviced about a month ago, and they do not do anything with it.

“Food waste and by products are to be removed from food rooms as quickly as possible and avoid their accumulation.

“You need to ensure that the waste is removed regularly.

The trampoline park also serves slushies. The inspector wrote “The general condition of the slushy room was unsatisfactory.

The trampoline park was told “The general level of cleaning needs to be improved."
The trampoline park was told “The general level of cleaning needs to be improved."

“The room was dirty with a lot of spilt syrup on the floor and on the shelving,” and there was a “Heavy accumulation of mice droppings,” they noted.

The inspector also wrote that a stack of empty slush syrup boxes was “providing a food source food for the mice”.

Gravity was told by the inspector they should refurbish the slushy room, as the slushy machine was stored on a homemade wooden unit, and much of the rest of the furniture was wooden.

“The general level of cleaning needs to be improved. Unsealed wood is not suitable in a food business as it is absorbent and cannot be cleaned properly,” they wrote.

During the visit on February 8, the officer also slated the fact that there was no soap at the basin in the main kitchen, only alcohol gel.

A dirty wooden unit in the slushy room at Gravity
A dirty wooden unit in the slushy room at Gravity

The officer concluded Gravity needed to put its staff on refresher training courses for their food management system, which was “not being fully implemented”.

A spokesperson for Gravity said: “During February this year Gravity Maidstone as a unit within the Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre was made aware of a rodent problem within the scheme.

“This was outside of the premises but by the nature of ingress we were visited by the local authority to check.

“During this time, we worked closely with the landlord, pest control specialists and the local authority on control measures and cleanliness to enable the centre infestation to be removed.

“Actions were swift from all parties involved. Providing a great customer experience is and will always be our number one priority at Gravity Maidstone.”

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