Mouse droppings and underheated food have raised serious food safety concerns at Odeon Greenwich in Charlton, as reported by our sister title London Now.
The cinema on Bugsby Way was inspected by food safety officers on January 22 and received a food hygiene rating of two, meaning improvement is needed.
Inspectors reported an “ongoing mouse issue” in both storage and service areas, with staff failing to identify the droppings during their own checks, London Now reports, where further details of the inspection findings can be read.
Serious lapses in cleaning, disinfection and food handling procedures were also identified, leading Greenwich Council to warn that prosecution remains a possible outcome.
One of the most critical failures involved hot food safety, as reheated hot dog sausages were found stored in a drawer at just 53°C.
Odeon’s own food safety system requires hot food to be kept at 63°C or above to prevent bacterial growth.
In its report, the council said: "Staff were not implementing the documented food safety procedures.
"Staff not assigned to food concessions congregating in food preparation areas.
"Staff standing in food service areas unnecessarily, increasing contamination risk.
"Cleaning chemicals not being diluted correctly.
"One antibacterial spray bottle being unlabelled.
"Cleaning schedules being completed even though cleaning was ineffective.
"Pest checks being signed off despite mouse droppings remaining in multiple locations."
Management had assured inspectors the underheated food was a one-off error made by a nervous staff member.
Despite this, inspectors found confidence in the cinema’s management to be lacking.
The handwritten inspection notes also highlighted the need for immediate and deep cleaning, with mouse evidence present in food storage areas and overall hygiene rated as subpar.
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Additional structural issues were identified, including damaged Altro flooring in the service area and a wall behind the microwave that had exposed, uncleanable foam.
Inspectors ordered repairs to be completed within a month to restore cleanliness and food safety.
Problems were also raised around chemical use, with antibacterials not diluted according to manufacturer instructions and cleaning procedures described as ineffective.
Hand-washing facilities presented further cause for concern.
The basin near the hot dog machine was found full of food debris and appeared to be used for washing equipment rather than hands.
Customers have echoed some of the concerns raised in the inspection, with Tripadvisor reviews repeatedly mentioning poor cleanliness.
In May 2026, one visitor described the cinema as a "dirty, uncomfortable experience", claiming bins were "sooo dirty" and toilets "smelled like a train toilet".
Another reviewer described the cinema as "an absolute embarrassment of a cinema", reporting "excrement smeared across the toilet seat and vomit on the floor".
The food hygiene issues mark the latest setback for the venue, which has received growing criticism from customers in recent months.
Despite the cinema having "generally satisfactory" standards for food handling and safety management, inspectors said improvements were required in the cleanliness of facilities and pest control.
Ventilation, layout and hand-washing facilities also fell short of acceptable standards.
The Food Standards Agency runs the food hygiene rating scheme, which scores businesses from zero (urgent improvement required) to five (very good standards).
Members of the public can request a copy of the full food safety officer’s report from Greenwich Council.
A spokesman for Odeon said: "At ODEON, we take our food safety and hygiene responsibilities extremely seriously and have clear processes in place across our cinemas.
"Following the recent inspection at ODEON Greenwich, we have strengthened our processes and introduced additional measures to address the areas identified.
"We continue to work closely with the local authority and our specialist partners, and are awaiting a return visit from the Environmental Health Officer."
Legal proceedings have not been ruled out.
According to the official inspection report, the main food safety breaches included:
Hot food held at unsafe temperatures, with sausages in a hot holding drawer measured at 53°C – well below Odeon’s own minimum of 63°C. A hand-wash basin near the hot dog machine filled with food debris, showing it was being misused for equipment cleaning. Poor surface disinfection, with inconsistent or incorrectly diluted cleaning chemicals. An ongoing mouse infestation, with droppings found in multiple areas. Staff and management failing to follow documented hygiene procedures.
The inspection scoring sheet recorded 20 points for poor hygiene practices, five for structural issues, and 20 for lack of management confidence.
This combination brought the overall rating down to two.
Immediate actions were ordered to address food safety risks, with further management improvements expected within a month.
Despite the poor rating, some customers on Tripadvisor have praised elements of the cinema, particularly the size and sound quality of its screens.
In May 2025, one customer described the sound as "outstanding" and noted the men's toilets were "clean and tidy".
However, recent reviews have largely focused on maintenance and hygiene concerns, calling the cinema "poorly maintained" and "poorly staffed".
Others have raised issues about long queues, lack of seating and inadequate customer service.
The cinema is located on Bugsby Way and is a popular destination for families and film fans in the Charlton and Greenwich areas.
Odeon says it is waiting for a return visit from environmental health officers and is working to resolve all outstanding issues.
The food hygiene failures come at a time when customer confidence is already low due to negative reviews about the venue’s cleanliness and upkeep.
Visitors to the cinema are encouraged to contact Greenwich Council if they wish to view the full food hygiene report.
The Food Standards Agency’s rating system helps inform the public about the hygiene standards of food businesses across the UK.
Odeon said: "We continue to work closely with the local authority and our specialist partners, and are awaiting a return visit from the Environmental Health Officer."
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