The clinking of dishes and the smell of bacon are “unacceptable”: a cafe was forced to close its doors

A café in Weymouth, England, was forced to close its doors a few weeks before Christmas, after neighbors complained of annoying “clinking teacups” and “the smell of bacon.”

“Complaining about the smell of bacon is ridiculous. And 90% of the time the wind is blowing on the other side of that house!” exclaimed the owner, Emma Isles, to Telegraph Thursday. What do they want us to do, use chocolate cups so they don’t make a noise?”

A few weeks before the holiday, the 47-year-old had to resolve to put her eight employees on the street, after the authorities decided to close the Caddy Shack cafe after ruling that it constituted “unacceptable harm” to the employees. The living conditions of its neighbors, according to British media.

The café, built from a metal container converted into a restaurant, was moved to the rugby club in the seaside town of Weymouth, in southern England, in April 2022. Due to its popularity, the owner has begun steps to make it permanent.

But in October last year, three local residents reportedly complained about the establishment over the “noise and smell”, using the clinking of teacups and the smell of bacon as their main issue. So much so that the woman’s request to stay was rejected.

On Saturday, her request to appeal the case ended in rejection, forcing the woman to close the store permanently.

“It happened just before Christmas and I had to lay off eight employees. They had children, or students […] “The council should be supporting small businesses rather than supporting the ridiculous complaints made by three residents.” Telegraph.

For Weymouth and Portland Rugby and Football Club president Anthony Goss, the city council’s decision is “sad for small businesses trying to find their place in a difficult economic climate”.

He told British media: “We are disappointed about the decision and its impact on the region, not only on the players and their families, but on the community.”