Malik's restaurant, Cookham fined £85,000 for serious fire safety breaches

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

Police were appealing for information following the fire, which forced seven people who were upstairs to flee through the windows on December 6, 2016. 

The fire devastated the restaurant

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 devastating blaze.

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.

The damage to the restaurant

"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.”

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

The damage to the restaurant

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.”