A woman who had to close her cafe after neighbours complained about the smell of bacon and the clinking of teacups plans to reopen it – on the other side of the carpark.
Emma Ayles, 47, hopes that repositioning her cafe will take it out of the earshot and nostrils of complainants.
Officials ordered Emma to shut the Caddy Shack cafe in Weymouth, Dorset in December due to the ‘unacceptable harm’ it caused to the neighbours.
Objectors claimed the ‘smell of bacon’ and ‘hearing teaspoons and teacups’ was ruining their standard of living when she applied to make the cafe a permanent fixture.
Dorset Council rejected Emma’s bid for retrospective planning permission in February last year and her appeal was also thrown out.
Emma Ayles, 47, (pictured) who had to close her cafe after neighbours complained about the smell of bacon and the clinking of teacups plans to reopen it – on the other side of the carpark
She hopes that repositioning her cafe will take it out of the earshot and nostrils of complainants
Officials ordered Emma to shut the Caddy Shack cafe in Weymouth, Dorset in December due to the ‘unacceptable harm’ it caused to the neighbours
The Caddy Shack cafe, which is in a converted shipping container, had been a popular addition to Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club’s carpark since it opened in April 2022.
The married mum-of-two has now submitted a new planning application for the cafe which will see it moved 100m away from the houses.
Emma said: ‘Before it was 24 metres away from the neighbours but now it will be nearly to 100 metres, so they shouldn’t be able to smell bacon or hear teacups clinking.’
She already has the backing of Weymouth Town Council who voted to support her plans but they must now be approved by Dorset Council.
Emma said she hoped ‘common sense would prevail’ and officials will approve the new location and support a local business.
She has also started a Change.Org petition to save The Caddy Shack which has received over 4,000 signatures in a month.
She said: ‘It’s been really heart-warming and lovely to see the support (from the petition).
‘The plan is to put the shack completely on the other side of the car park.
‘I am hopeful that this time the council will be on my side as two of the three complaints said they wanted the shack moved to the other side of the car park.
Dorset Council rejected Emma’s bid for retrospective planning permission in February last year and her appeal was also thrown out
The married mum-of-two has now submitted a new planning application for the cafe which will see it moved 100m away from the houses
She has also started a Change.Org petition to save The Caddy Shack which has received over 4,000 signatures in a month
‘That’s what we are proposing and it was only the ringleader who was against the whole thing.
‘I am hopeful that they will approve it but I’ve learnt from my experience so far that anything can happen.’
After closing the cafe in December, resulting in eight people being made redundant, Emma described the stress she had endured over the petty row.
She said: ‘It’s been a constant battle, and so stressful.
‘The whole thing is so ridiculous that I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
‘To complain about the smell of bacon is ridiculous. And 90 per cent of the time the wind blows the other way from that house.
‘What do they want us to do, use chocolate teacups so there is no sound?
‘The council should be supporting small businesses yet they have given in to the ridiculous complaints of three residents.
In backing Emma’s plans, councillor Tim Young said: ‘I would like to support it. It was a very popular resource, it wold be a shame if it didn’t come back. They have moved it back a bit, that would seem to solve the problem.’
The decision to force the cafe to shut in December was slammed by people on social media.
Emma had to make eight people redundant when she closed the cafe in December
Kati Eastwood posted: ‘The sound of tea spoons and smell of bacon… that must have been absolutely horrendous for the residents. They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.’
Jon Fells added: ‘This is just behind my house. They cause absolutely no problem whatsoever.
‘I’ve visited on a number of occasions for food and drink.
‘What an absolute shame that someone feels the need to empower themselves by getting this great little establishment shut down. So sad!’
Anthony Goss, chairman of Weymouth and Portland RFC also said: ‘We’re disappointed with the judgement, and the impact it will bring to the local area, not just from players and their families, but to the community.
‘It’s very sad for a small business making its way in a tough climate and sad for the staff.
‘The support from people has been unbelievable. A huge thanks to all the customers for making the place what it is.’
has contacted Dorset Council for comment.