Cinnamons Restaurant Statement

The council has a legal duty to investigate nuisance complaints about smells from industrial, trade and business premises that could be a statutory nuisance. We follow a clear procedure to investigate nuisance complaints, ensuring each case is evaluated based on the evidence.

In the interests of our residents, it is also the council’s responsibility to take action where problems exist. We always aim to advise and support businesses on how they can resolve issues. However, if measures are not introduced to solve the issue and abatement notices are breached, we have no option but to prosecute.

In the case of Cinnamons Restaurant in Wheatley, the Council’s Environmental Protection Team has assessed the odour complaint following our procedures and legislation. An extensive investigation at this site determined a statutory nuisance existed in relation to the kitchen’s ventilation systems. Cinnamons Cuisine Limited, who run the restaurant, has since failed to follow our recommendations and has breached an environmental abatement notice on several occasions between October 2023 and April 2024.

Cinnamons pleaded guilty to four charges ahead of a scheduled three-day court appearance on Wednesday 2 October 2024.

The District Judge at Oxford Magistrates’ Court reviewed the evidence and statements provided by council officers and the company, and taking into consideration the revised guilty plea, the judge ordered that the company pay a total of £25,000 – this includes an £11,000 fine, an award of full costs of £12,000 to South Oxfordshire District Council, alongside a victim surcharge of £2,000.

Subsequently, as well as pleading guilty to the charges of statutory nuisance laid against them, Cinnamons admitted that they could have done more to mitigate the odour.

The council can advise and assist where we can, but ultimately responsibility for fixing the problem sits with the business. The business has been provided advice and guidance on steps they can take, but to date have failed to follow our recommendations.

Cinnamons is still the subject of an ongoing legal case, and we will therefore not in a position to comment any further on this case other than the information provided in the statement above.