Something surprising happened to Emma Ayles, a 47-year-old café owner. She had to close her café because three neighbors complained. They didn’t like the smell of bacon and the noise of teacups. This sad closure left eight people without jobs, and Emma feels very upset, especially because it happened just before Christmas.
The Caddy Shack Cafe is in Dorset and was made with the help of the Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club. It started in April 2022. Emma turned a metal shipping container into a cute café. It was on the rugby club’s land while she tried to get permission to keep it there permanently.
The café quickly became a local favorite, with all sorts of people visiting, like walkers, school kids, and those using mobility scooters. It became a place where everyone felt welcome and belonged.
But in October 2022, three neighbors complained about the noise and smell from the café. In February, the council said no to letting the café stay. Emma tried to fight it, but it didn’t work. She had to shut down her business.
Emma was really upset. She had to tell her employees right before Christmas, which was tough. She couldn’t understand why they closed her café, and everyone else was shocked too.
People complained about the smell of bacon and the noise of teaspoons and teacups. Emma thinks these complaints are silly because usually, the wind blows the bacon smell away from the complainers’ houses. She joked, “Do they want us to use chocolate teacups so there’s no noise?”
Emma also criticized the council’s decision because it affected her regular customers, especially students from Wyvern School and disabled people who could easily access the café with their scooters. She said, “I feel sorry for the community because groups met at the café every day.”
The Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club appealed against the council’s decision because they were worried about how it would affect players and the local community. They understood the challenges small businesses face and thanked the café’s loyal customers for their support.
Many people on social media were upset about the café closing. Some, like Kati Eastwood, made sarcastic comments about the complaints, while others, like Jon Fells, were sad about the closure and praised the café.
