A RESTAURANT has been handed a £85,000 fine after the building caught fire in 2016.

An investigation carried out by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service found Malik's restaurant in Cookham had breached a number of serious fire safety breaches.

Fire Safety Inspecting Officers found the restaurant had insufficient fire alarm and detection in the residential part of the building and a lack of compliant fire doors.

The company Beta UK Limited was sentenced for fire safety breaches following the fire at Malik’s Restaurant, Cookham.

READ MORE: Two serving soldiers from Berkshire charged with trying to sell ammunition

Councillor Colin Dudley, Chairman of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority said: “The majority of business owners comply with fire safety legislation but as this case shows, the consequences of failing to comply are serious. Following the incident in December 2016, our teams have worked to ensure that the owner of this restaurant was not able to escape the law.

“The message is clear – all business owners have a duty to help keep their staff and our communities safe. If they put anyone at risk by breaking the law, we will prosecute.”

ALSO READ: Woman’s body pulled from river in Maidenhead

On 23 October 2020, Reading Magistrates’ Court heard that a serious fire broke out in the early hours of 6 December 2016.

Beta UK Limited pleaded guilty to six charges under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Jess James, area manager at RBFRS, said: “As this case strongly illustrates, complying with fire safety legislation is not optional. Failure to do so can put people’s lives at risk. We will always work with businesses but, as with this case, we won’t hesitate to prosecute if members of our communities are put at risk.”