Surrey Heath canalside café closed over council rent hike to reopen
It shut in September after Surrey County Council put the rent up
A popular canalside café which closed and staff made redundant after a council hiked its rents up will reopen this week.
The Canal Café, which sits beside Basingstoke Canal in Mytchett, had closed in September and a sign appeared in the window which read: “Due to crazy rent increase, we have been forced to close”.
Mike Rippingale, a business partner of the café, claims the Surrey County Council increased the rent by 260 per cent overnight, which he could “in no way” afford, as well as adding contributions to the car park and toilet cleaning.
He said the increased costs meant the end of his 14-year business and he had to make his staff redundant.
At the time he said: “It the café is part of us and it has been for 14 years – it’s part of us being ripped away. We are gutted to lose something we have put so much into.”
But after county councillors got involved, a compromise was negotiated for the small seasonal business and it can reopen this Friday (November 5).
Mr Rippingale, of Mytchett, said: “No one’s happy with any increases, but what we’ve agreed means I can stay in business.
“I understand the council has a duty to get the best rent but it wasn’t suitable for this site, we’re not the high street.
“I had to shut straight away because by continuing to trade I was accepting that rent.”
Scores of people took to the Next Door app to show their support for the business, with one woman from the village saying: “The café has been my happy place since Covid restrictions were lifted”.
A Frimley Green resident said she wrote to the council: “The Mytchett canal centre cafe has been a power for good during the pandemic. Fresh air seating, socialisation and a strong excuse for locals to get out and exercise. A plus for physical and mental wellbeing.”
A Surrey County Council spokesman said: “We know how important it is to support small businesses as Surrey recovers from the Covid pandemic, and we are pleased that after further discussion and review Surrey County Council and the Tenant were able to come to an agreement that worked for both parties.
“However the council is obligated to maintain commercial confidentiality and cannot comment further on the details of individual cases.”
Mr Rippingale said following negotiations with the county council, he and his partner Leck Chongnugul will be able to trade solvently, though with “certain changes” including a revised menu and reducing opening to six days a week, closing on Mondays.
He said prices have had to go up because of rising costs generally.
He added most of his former staff had found other jobs but two remain, including the chef Guy Kaeomanee, and they have taken the opportunity to refurbish the kitchen.
Canal Café reopens on November 5, from 9.30am to 3pm.