Rat droppings were discovered in the kitchen of a popular Chinese restaurant.

China Palace in Chapel Road, Worthing, has been given a lowly new hygiene rating of zero after health inspectors found the droppings.

The restaurant, which is famed in the town for its ‘all you can eat’ £15.80 buffet, previously boasted a rating of four out of five.


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Manager Victor Hang initially told The Argus the reason for its new rating was because he could not provide inspectors with appropriate paperwork.

But it has since been revealed health bosses found rat droppings in cupboards and behind fridges at the restaurant’s kitchen on March 10.

Mr Hang said: “There was evidence of vermin, yes. There were holes in some doors on the ground level where they must have got in and gone up the stairs.

“They found droppings in the kitchen, behind fridges. But it was not obvious and we are very disappointed it happened. We got in pest control straight away and have fixed the problem.

“They also marked us down because on the night they came they asked to see paperwork, but I wasn’t present. I keep all the paperwork in an office only I had access to. I told them I could show them the next day but they said if I didn’t come back that night then they would score us without it. I couldn’t get back because I was miles away.

“The only other points brought up were flaky paint on the ceilings and normal things like that.”

Mr Hang said he was appealing the decision and it was “unfair” the restaurant had to live with its new rating for months before inspectors returned.

He added: “Inspectors said they can’t come back for three months, which means our customers are asking questions and getting concerned.

“It’s a false system and quite unfair.

“They’re only down the road but now we have to live with this new rating for three months.”

In January this year the restaurant hit national headlines after a diner tried to flee the restaurant without paying. He had to be rescued from a roof after he got stuck trying to escape via a balcony.

A spokeswoman from Worthing Borough Council said: “Our Environmental Health inspectors inspected the China Palace the day after the inspection and found they had cleaned up and employed a pest contractor.

“They have also undertaken works to prevent all vermin from entering the property. We are monitoring them closely to ensure that standards don’t slip.”