A 127-year-old ex-ice cream parlour that was restored to its former glory as a cafe bar, winning plaudits and a top gong at the Scottish Restaurant Awards in the process, has shut down after falling foul of licensing red-tape.
The popular Kelvingrove Cafe in Argyle Street, Glasgow, has been forced to call last orders temporarily after the city's environmental health officers found no sink for chefs to wash their hands. It did not have the appropriate requirements in place to sell alcohol, which included an extensive craft beer, whisky and wine list.
It will be closed until August unless an application can be prepared and submitted in time for Friday's final hearing of the Glasgow's licensing board. The hearing is the last before the summer recess.
The cafe had a provisional licence, but it appears the owners began trading before due process was complete. Local legislation stipulates a provisional licence must be confirmed before trading can begin, and this means a further inspection must be undertaken by the licensing board.
The licence alone does not allow a licensee to sell alcohol, although it does allow a licensee to apply for occasional, or temporary, licences ahead of applying for a permanent one.
Board member Councillor Judith Fisher said: "The issue of handwashing facilities was not picked up because the appropriate process was not gone through and this put public health at risk."
Chairman Councillor Malcolm Cunning said: "You need a licence to sell the booze and a place that is safe to sell food. We have got to be worried if these premises missed the boat on those two counts."
The cafe went to great lengths to restore the original signage from the ice cream parlour and is popular with residents of the west end. It has its own resident mixologist to ensure the drinks are perfect for customers.
A Glasgow Licensing Board spokesman said: "An application to confirm a provisional licence for Kelvingrove Cafe was continued to allow further information to be gathered. Members of the board wish to visit the premises before making a decision in due course."
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