| |
 Richard Caring |
Campaigners are left with bitter taste by al fresco restaurant boss
WITH a restaurant empire including the Ivy, Le Caprice and J Sheekey, Richard Caring is a man used to having his soufflé and eating it.
And this morning is no different as the multi-millionaire wakes up to news that Westminster Council has approved his bid to increase the number of al fresco diners outside his Mayfair eaterie, Scott’s.
A group of well-heeled residents living near the celebrity hangout in Mount Street tried to block the proposals over claims it would bring noisy chaos to the street.
But they failed to persuade the council’s licensing committee that the move would increase public nuisance, or that the street’s paparazzi problem would get worse.
The seafood restaurant, a one-time haunt of Oscar Wilde and Ian Fleming now favoured by David and Victoria Beckham and Lily Allen, will expand the number of outside tables from five to seven and the number of diners from 15 to 28.
Thursday morning’s committee meeting heard evidence from around half a dozen residents.
Nadim Lababidy, who has lived in the street for more than 30 years, said the application “disregarded the tranquillity concerns of the residents”. Another, Elizabeth Preston, called it “unacceptable”.
Councillor Michael Brahams, chairman of the licensing sub-committee, said: “Our decision only represents a small increase in the number of outdoor spaces for outdoor dining already allowed, primarily because three is an odd number per table for dining when common sense dictates most people dine in pairs.
“If a large number of chairs were allowed per table it may have attracted groups who would be noisier than couples, but the committee was satisfied that four chairs per table would not unduly increase noise levels for local residents.
“The council actively seeks to promote al fresco dining wherever it is appropriate and Scott’s is something of an institution as it has been in existence for decades.”
Scott’s was founded by the fishmonger John Scott with his oyster warehouse in Coventry Street in 1851. It rapidly evolved into one of London’s most fashionable and glamorous meeting places for film stars, politicians and writers.
Caprice Holdings took over the restaurant in 2005.
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
