‘It’s like a mini Vegas’: Famous cafe’s expansion plans rejected over public toilet dispute and noise

A cafe’s plan to extend its opening times and alcohol licence has been rejected by Oldham council over concerns the change would ‘ruin the area’.

Grandpa Greene’s Bistro and Parlour in Uppermill applied to expand its opening hours to include tea time, so they could serve dinner and drinks until 9.30pm. 

But neighbours to the business in King George V Park on Wade Row said they were already struggling with ‘horrendous’ noise and disruption and suggested it would be ‘cruel’ to extend the hours. 

The bistro is a sister-business to the much-loved ice cream parlour in Diggle and is known for its TikTok famous Yorkshire puddings.

But despite its popularity, business owner Rick Scholes told a licensing meeting at Oldham Civic Centre the cafe was ‘not hitting the numbers we need to’ as the hospitality industry struggles nationally. 

The extension from 7pm to 9.30pm would ‘have a huge impact from a revenue point of view’, Scholes claimed. 

But the cafe’s nearest neighbour raised concerns about additional noise and anti-social behaviour at the site.

Jane Taylor and her husband live just eleven metres away from the conservatory-style building, which used to be the park’s public toilet.  

“The noise that we get from the extractor fan is horrendous,” she said.

“It’s like a drumming all day long. 

“There’s a lot of elderly with ill health [in nearby houses] and I’m terminally ill myself.

"We need to be able to open our windows but it’s just unbearable with the noise.” 

She added that Uppermill’s high street was already like ‘a mini Vegas’ and she didn’t want to see the ‘tranquil area ruined’ if drunken adults started to venture into the children’s play park at night. 

Councillor Helen Bishop, who represented a number of other neighbours from the area, also raised the issue of public toilets.

The site’s conversion was initially opposed by locals on account of the permanent loss of public facilities. 

An agreement was struck that the cafe’s toilets should be made available to those with disabilities for 24 hours a day using radar keys, according to Bishop.

But currently the cafe locks the toilet doors from 7pm. 

The licensing committee decided to reject the cafe’s application on account of noise and a risk to children being exposed to antisocial behaviour.

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