CG PO21 Ltd, trading as China Garden, has been prosecuted by Arun District Council for a series of serious food safety and hygiene breaches.
The takeaway, which operated from 20 Rose Green Road in Bognor Regis, was found to have poor standards during a routine inspection by council officers in October 2024.
Officers conducted a further seven visits over the following months but, despite receiving food safety training, translated guidance and repeated advice, standards continued to deteriorate, Arun District Council said.
A total of nine Improvement Notices were served by the council, with food and surface testing repeatedly producing poor results, revealing the presence of potentially harmful bacteria.
Action by environmental health officers was also required to secure two voluntary closures: the first in April 2024 due to a pest infestation, and the second in December 2024 due to a lack of hot water, preventing good personal hygiene and effective cleaning.
The company’s director, Xiang Ming Chen, and manager, Min Chen, were ultimately prosecuted by the council after pleading guilty to the offences, which took place between October 2024 and May 2025.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 22 June 2026, they were ordered to pay a combined total of £37,000 in fines, victim surcharges and costs.
A takeaway named China Garden is still operating at the same address but is now under different ownership and management. The current operators were not involved in the offences and were not subject to the prosecution.
Amanda Worne, who chairs the council’s environment committee, said: “The council is committed to supporting businesses through advice and guidance. But when serious food safety failings pose a risk to public health and are not addressed, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action.
“In this case, the standards found were wholly unacceptable and demonstrated a disregard for food safety responsibilities. We hope this prosecution sends a clear message that such breaches will not be tolerated, as the safety and wellbeing of our residents will always come first.”
