Coffee chain piles on the agony for caf shop owner

Roger Yeomans, who owns Marbles coffee shop in the Shambles, continues to suffer because Caffe Nero is trading below him.

Mr Yeomans was making an appearance on Radio 4 at noon today on the You and Yours show to talk about his plight.

Caffe Nero has traded without permission for 11 months - and avoided being thrown out when it submitted a planning application to the city council, which was rejected.

As reported in the Worcester News last month, Caffe Nero plans to appeal against the refusal, which will allow it to stay open and trade without approval for even longer.

The Worcester News can reveal it has up to six months to formally appeal without being thrown out, piling on the problems for Marbles coffee shop.

The city council is about to serve an enforcement notice on Caffe Nero, but expects the chain to appeal against that too.

"I had a feeling Caffe Nero would drag it out like this," said Mr Yeomans.

"They really should be closed by now.

"We just cannot grow this business with them downstairs. I have been here six years and this is the worst year we have had, some days we are taking just £40 or £50 a day.

"I'm Worcester born and bred and want to make my living in this city.

"These big chains have no interest in Worcester at all apart from making money.

"It's hard to say how long we can go on like this."

City council planning officer Paul O'Connor said: "I don't expect this to be solved for some time.

"We can confirm we are serving an enforcement notice on Caffe Nero, but expect them to appeal against that, too.

"We are doing it now to avoid a final decision on it being delayed even longer. They are entitled to drag out the appeal against the decision another four months."

The chain has until mid-December to formally appeal to the rejection.

A spokesman for Caffe Nero said they do intend to appeal in light of the "disappointing" refusal.