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A south London Korean restaurant that once received rave reviews has been closed after rat droppings were found among ingredients.

The fried chicken at CheeMc in Southwark was once described by restaurant critic Jay Rayner as “the best I’ve ever tried” after he sampled it with a variety of seasonings.

Waxing lyrical about the Walworth Road eatery in a 2015 review in The Guardian, he described his meal as “perfect pieces of fried chicken with a gloriously crunchy batter”.

Of the 25 reviews it has received on Trip Advisor, 20 have rated it Excellent or Very Good.

However, following a routine inspection last Thursday, health and safety failings at the restaurant were described by Southwark Council as “catastrophic”.

Food safety officers found a catalogue of poor hygiene standards and food safety concerns, forcing them to close the restaurant due to the high risk to public health.

They uncovered evidence of a significant rat problem in the kitchen with rat droppings found on worktop surfaces, on a storage shelf containing dry goods, beneath the refrigerator and the floors.

Officers also found contaminated food and filthy kitchen essentials.

The condition of the premises was such that it was considered to present an imminent risk to health.

Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for communities and safety, said: “It is extremely rare that we decide to close down a food business but CheeMc posed too great of a public health risk to be allowed to stay open.

“Whilst most local food businesses are safe and enjoyable places to eat, thanks in part to our proactive food safety team, CheeMc flouted their responsibilities and will be held to account.

“The restaurant will only be allowed to reopen once we’re satisfied that necessary steps have been taken to improve matters.”

The council has applied for a court order that was successfully upheld by Camberwell Magistrates Courts on Monday.

The restaurant will remain closed until permission is granted by the council.

Officers had previously visited the premises in September last year and issued strong verbal and written warnings to the owner with regard to the poor standards of safety and hygiene.

The Standard has attempted to reach CheeMc for a comment.