In a surprising event, Emma Ayles, a 47-year-old mother of two, had to close her cafe, resulting in eight people losing their jobs. This happened after three neighbors complained about the smell of bacon and the noise from clinking teacups.
Planning officials acted quickly, saying the cafe was harming the neighbors’ living conditions. Emma started The Caddy Shack Cafe in April 2022 in a metal shipping container with the Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club’s help. She was running it temporarily while trying to get permanent approval. Emma is heartbroken about losing her business just before Christmas.
The cafe quickly became popular with locals, including walkers, school children, and people on mobility scooters. It was a welcoming place where different groups could meet and feel a sense of community.
However, in October 2022, three nearby residents complained about the noise and smell from the cafe. Because of these complaints, Dorset Council denied Emma’s request for permission to keep the cafe open in February. Her appeal was also rejected, leaving her with no options.
Emma expressed her frustration, saying, “It’s been a constant struggle, always worrying if the business would stay open. Then, on Saturday, I was told to close the next day. Just before Christmas, I had to let eight staff members go, who are either students or have children. It was a terrible conversation, and no one understands why we had to close. Everyone is shocked.”
The complaints were about the “smell of bacon” and the noise of “teaspoons and teacups.” Emma thought these complaints were ridiculous, pointing out that the wind usually blew the bacon smell away from the neighbors. She joked, “Do they want us to use chocolate teacups so there’s no sound?”
Emma also criticized the council’s decision, worrying about the community members who regularly visited her cafe, like students from Wyvern School and disabled people who used mobility scooters. She felt sorry for her loyal customers, saying, “I just feel bad for the community since groups met at the cafe every day.”
Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club appealed the planning decision, expressing disappointment over its impact on players and the local community. The club’s chairman, Anthony Goss, noted the challenges small businesses face and thanked the cafe’s loyal customers for their support.
The decision to close the cafe has caused outrage on social media, with many people expressing disbelief over the complaints and the action taken. One user, Kati Eastwood, sarcastically commented on the noise of teacups and the smell of bacon, while another, Jon Fells, praised the cafe and was sad about its closure.
This incident has raised questions about how to balance supporting local businesses and addressing residents’ concerns. It is unclear if there will be any further action or reconsideration of the decision to close The Caddy Shack Cafe.