Malik’s restaurant, Cookham in Maidenhead, has been fined £ 85,000 for a number of ‘serious fire safety violations’ discovered after a fire broke out at the site.

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

An investigation by the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) found that there were a number of fire safety deficiencies at the property, including ‘insufficient fire alarm and detection’ in the residential area building and a “lack” of compliant fire doors.

Beta UK Limited, the company in charge of the restaurant, has pleaded guilty to six counts under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order of 2005.

The defendant company was fined £ 85,000 and the authority was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution.

Beta UK Limited appealed the conviction and the appeal was heard on May 6, 2021 at Reading Crown Court. The court upheld the financial fine of £ 85,000 and awarded the prosecution costs.

Councilor Colin Dudley, Chairman of the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, said: “The majority of business owners comply with fire safety legislation, but as this case shows, the consequences of non-compliance are serious.

“Following the incident of December 2016, our teams worked to ensure that the owner of this restaurant could not escape the law. The message is clear: All business owners have a duty to help keep their people and our communities safe. If they endanger someone by breaking the law, we will prosecute. “