A gastropub in Barnes was given a zero food-hygiene rating after an inspector found mouse droppings and had concerns about the level of cleanliness.

The Treehouse, on White Hart Lane, was visited by a Richmond Council inspector who found that "urgent improvement was necessary."

According to their report, obtained through a freedom of information request, there were signs of mouse activity “evident from mouse droppings,” which the inspector put down to “lack of internal proofing, provision of potential harbourage, ineffective rodenticide treatments and lack of cleaning”.

In his report, the inspector also asked The Treehouse to “hire a competent electrician” to fix broken sockets and insulate a “live wire exposed on the wall”.

He told the owner: “You were unable to demonstrate that any gas appliance, installation pipework of flue installed at the premises has been maintained so as to prevent injury to any person.”

The report concluded that The Treehouse should hire a “competent pest control contractor”, food mustn’t be left uncovered overnight, the premises should be “thoroughly cleaned” and food preparation surfaces and equipment should be washed before use.

Owner Raj Saiker said the mouse dropping had been found in the basement, not in the kitchen, and that they could have been old. He said the pub had a pest control company that came in every six-to-eight weeks and that a gas safety check had been done before the inspection.

He said: “Everything in the report that they recommended we have done, and more. We have refurbished the kitchen,and the place is nice and clean and tidy. If anyone wants to have a look they can.

Mr Saiker added that cooked food was covered and not left out overnight. He said everything had been fixed and that he had been trying to arrange a reinspection but had not heard back from the inspector.

Food safety officers rate establishments from zero, meaning "urgent improvement is necessary", to five, meaning standards are “very good”.

The inspector visited the premises both in March and June this year.