Storm in a tea cup as coffee cart moved on
THE owner of a popular cafe has hit out at a council after he was given his marching orders from a town centre.
Federal Cafe Bar, which has two sites in the city centre, pitched its mobile coffee cart outside The White Horse pub, in Prestwich, two weeks ago.
In the two days it was there, its takeaway coffees and desserts proved a huge hit.
However, Bury Council has since ordered Federal to move on as it says the cart was in an area where street traders are banned.
The ‘legally prohibited trading zone’ covers Bury New Road, Fairfax Road and Rectory Lane in Prestwich.
Claudio Ribiero, who owns Federal Cafe Bar, said: “The two days we were there, we did really well.
“We sold about 200 coffees each day.
“I was on private land so I thought it would be fine if I paid a little bit to the pub.
“Obviously that was incorrect and I needed a licence.”
In an attempt to boost trade and bring some of his staff back from furlough, Mr Ribeiro opened a coffee cart in Altrincham Market back in January.
He says he wanted to do the same in Prestwich and says he struck a deal with brewers Joseph Holt to set up outside The White Horse while it remains shut.
He claims when he asked if he could apply for a licence to trade in the area, he was told not to bother by council officials.
He suspects another business may have complained.
“It’s a shame because I would like to go back there,” Mr Ribeiro said.
“I’m not trying to interfere with anybody else. We are trying to get back to normal and trade in some way.
“I live in Prestwich and pay my council tax to Bury Council. “We should have checked, but the council could also have tried to understand that things are a little difficult right now. “I think they need to be a little more open-minded.” A spokesperson for Bury Council said: “We have every sympathy for businesses who have suffered during the coronavirus lockdowns, and will do everything we can to help them through these difficult times. “This person, however, had unknowingly set up in a legally prohibited trading zone, there to protect the interests of local businesses. He can trade outside this zone, as long as he applies for a street trading permit.”
I’m not trying to interfere with anybody else. We are trying to get back to normal and trade in some way
Claudio Ribiero