Illegal cafe set to be served order to quit hot food sales

AN illegal cafe in the Grassmarket is set to be ordered to stop selling hot food and allowing people to sit in after it was found to be operating without planning consent.

The operator of the Castle Rock View cafe in the heart of the Grassmarket had a planning application to turn the takeaway sandwich shop into a coffee shop with 20 seats rejected in February.

An appeal against the decision was also dismissed in May - but the unit has continued to operate as a sit-in coffee shop selling paninis, soup and pizzas.

Now planning officials have recommended that action is taken to remove the unauthorised tables, chairs and cooking facilities.

The cafe has been operating for around a year since a 40,000 refit saw it replace the former Gerry's grocery shop - and the operator insists that the cafe, which boasts views of Edinburgh Castle, benefits the Grassmarket area.

But neighbouring businesses lodged objections calling for action to be taken to stop the cafe selling hot food and allowing customers to sit in.

Robert Thornton, owner of the neighbouring shop Iconic, said: "From day one, 21 Grassmarket were fully aware of planning restrictions in the Grassmarket area but from day one they have chosen to ignore them.

"The cry of 'it's a pretty view' and 'we spent a lot of money here' doesn't really hold well when they are currently breaking the law.

"Other people are aware of this and are completely distressed at having to watch them function as they please and are unable at present to do that much to stop it."

Richard Cregan, proprietor of the Blackcherry coffee shop, said: "I feel the council have not acted swiftly enough in dealing with this. This has been an ongoing battle and stress added on to the hassle and stress in running a business and being self-employed."

But Castle Rock View Cafe owner Mahsum Cakan today urged councillors not to enforce the recommendations of the council's planning officials when they meet to decide whether to take action next week.

He said: "I know this benefits the Grassmarket, customers have said that. There is a nice view and people can sit and enjoy it with a nice coffee. I do not know what is wrong.

"Me and my business partner have put in a lot of money here and still I'm not making money. I took on an empty shop that was dirty and I made a nice new place." He gained support from a series of local residents, who said that the cafe has benefited the area.

And Sue Black of the neighbouring Grassmarket Embroidery Shop, said: "I am very anxious to ensure that this business continues to operate in the area and that the unit does not become vacant again as this would undoubtedly affect its character and appearance to the detriment of all around it."

In a report for councillors, John Bury, head of planning at the city council, said that running a cafe "undermines the provision of small-scale retail units that provide a range of specialist goods", and called for "enforcement action to remove the unauthorised tables, chairs and cooking facilities".

Councillors will make a final decision at a meeting of the planning committee next Wednesday.