RAte hike is bAd tAste for chef

Restaurant expansion plans on hold

A restaurateur in Peterborough has been left shocked by a huge business premises rates hike that could put his expansion plans on hold. Talented chef Lee Clarke, opened the 32-cover Prevost, in Priestgate, 11 monthsagoin a former club premises as he pursuedhisdreamofsecuring Michelin star status.

But he was stunned to find the change of use has sent the premises’ rateable value (RV) soaring from £6,100 to £40,500.

The rateable value is a key figure used by Peterborough CityCounciltodeterminehow much has to be paid in business rates.

The increase has been orderedbythegovernment’sValuation Office Agency (VOA).

AlettertoMrClarkestated: “This review wasnecessary as therewasachangeofuse. Specifically from a club to a restaurant.

“As a result, I need to in- crease theRVforthisproperty from £6.100 to £40,500.”

It adds this is back-dated to April 7 last year - when Mr Clarke moved in.

Mr Clarke, who employs threefull-timeandsevenparttimestaff, said: “It is areal kick in the teeth.

“It meansIcan’texpandthe business, ortakeonmorestaff as I had planned.

“I feel we are being penalised because the restaurant looks nice.

“Aclubsells food anddrink and so does a restaurant. What’s the difference?

“Thepremisesarenoteven aslarge astheywerebeforewe moved in.”

He has appealed against the new valuation.

Councillor Richard Ferris, whohasnominatedMrClarke for a council business award, said: “I am stunned by this.

“I am prepared to stand by MrClarkeandseewhatwecan do about this. An increase of this level of magnitude will have an impact.”

The review of Prevost is separate to the national ongoing review by VOA of rateable values of business premises.

Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson said: “I think most businesses in Peterborough will find they are better off.

“I’ll be monitoring the issue.”

Thecouncil will send business rates bills to about 5,900 businesses from March 2.

A VOA spokesperson said: “Wecannotcommentonindividual cases. Rateable values are based on an open market rental value on a fixed date - for this revaluation it’s April 1, 2015.

“If those open market values have changed, rateable values will changewiththem.”

Lee Clarke.