A Hard Day at the Cafe for Westbury Costa Owner

Westbury on Trym resident Stuart Montgomery has had a challenging start to the working week.  The former soldier was due to open a new Costa Coffee franchise on Gloucester Road today but his efforts were greeted by protesters claiming that the new store does not have planning permission, having had its application refused by Bristol City Council. The Council decision follows the submission of a 3,000-name petition in September by residents and users of Gloucester Road who claimed that the store would damage local independent businesses. Franchise holder Stuart Montgomery, who also runs Costas in Henleaze and Portishead, is appealing against the Council's decision.   

Meanwhile, the Council has served an enforcement notice on Mr Montgomery for another of his Costa outlets on Whiteladies Road. As previously reported on Trym Tales, the Clifton branch has opened without planning permission for a change of use for the building on Cotham Hill. 

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

Westbury Businessman Opens Whiteladies Costa Coffee Without Planning Permission

The recently-opened Costa Coffee shop on Whiteladies Road, which has opened without planning permission for a change of use, is owned by Westbury businessman Stuart Montgomery.

Mr Montgomery is a former soldier and also owns the Costa franchises in Portishead and Henleaze.

Earlier this year, Mr Montgomery was invited to become a member of the Leadership Group of the Prince's Trust charity.

The new shop is at the junction with Cotham Hill and was previously Derbyshire's Newsagents before it was converted into cafe.

 

Mr and Mrs Montgomery have "retail use" planning permission, allowing them to use the ground floor as a coffee shop with four chairs and one table. According to the City Council, the couple are breaking the terms of the planning rules by trading as a full-size coffee shop.

Earlier in the summer, Stuart Montgomery was voted Franchisee of the Year by Costa Coffee UK. He was quoted by Franchise News at the time saying that he wanted to open up to sixty additional coffee shops in the future. There are currently around 1200 Costa outlets across the UK.






If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

Legally Speaking

Driving back from town yesterday, I was stopped by a police officer who handed me a leaflet about Operation Tonic, the campaign by Avon and Somerset Constabulary to reduce drink driving. I had forgotten that this is an annual occurrence in early December on Whiteladies Road - education and awareness raising first, followed by a proper crackdown nearer Christmas.

In the course of the conversation with the officer, I was asked if I had my driving licence with me.

When I said I did not, I was politely informed that I was required to carry my licence (both parts), my MOT certificate and my insurance certificate whenever I drive anywhere.

I didn't know this was the law.

Does anyone know whether this is correct, and if so, when these requirements were enacted?

I'll be investigating further.

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.