Cornwall restaurant fined £14,000 after exposing staff and diners to carbon monoxide
Padstow restaurant, The Pickled Plate LTD, pleads guilty to five health and safety offences
A Cornwall restaurant has been fined £14,000 for endangering its staff and customers through carbon monoxide exposure.
At Exeter Magistrates’ Court on 18th June 2026, The Pickled Plate admitted multiple safety offences after failing to comply with Cornwall Council's advice and legal notices.
In 2025, staff were using a charcoal grill at the Higher Harlyn Park, Padstow premises without the required ventilation system certification.
Jasmine Caldwell, the restaurant's sole director, was informed by council officers about the safety controls necessary for using solid fuel grills indoors, but these were ignored.
Despite receiving an Improvement Notice and a Prohibition Notice, the restaurant continued using the grill until voluntarily closing following a council inspection.
Judge Smith highlighted the grave potential risks of carbon monoxide, though noted some ventilation reduced the likelihood of immediate harm.
Caldwell said she thought Prohibition Notice was being followed, but the judge indicated this was misconceived or naïve.
The Pickled Plate has since moved to a new location, operating as a seasonal micro-business.
The court ordered the company to pay an £8,000 fine, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and £4,000 towards Cornwall Council’s prosecuting costs.
Nick Kelly of Cornwall Council stressed the importance of proper risk assessments and extraction systems for venues using solid fuel equipment.
“We are seeing more and more eateries using solid fuel equipment, such as barbecues and charcoal ovens, which can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide exposure without a suitable extraction system,” Kelly said.
Businesses are encouraged to consult Cornwall Council’s Business Regulatory Support Service for more guidance on safety compliance.
Councillor Thalia Marrington remarked on the opportunities The Pickled Plate had to address the safety concerns and the necessity of intervention when advice is disregarded.
“When businesses blatantly disregard their legal obligations and put their staff and customers at risk, we have no choice but to take action,” Marrington said.
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