City cafe owners blame rent rise for closure

The owners of a city centre cafe in Bradford have blamed a £10,000 council rent rise for their decision to close.

Neil and Richard Wilnes, who opened Cake 'Ole cafe in City Park seven years ago, said the rise would also require them to sign a 10-year lease.

The pair said they would continue as normal with their other cafes in Keighley and Skipton but felt "let down" by the council, with the cafe due to shut at the end of April.

Bradford Council said an independent valuation showed the rent the cafe was paying was "lower than it should be for a property of this type", adding it had been working with the cafe to "support them in developing a more viable business model".

The couple set up their first Cake 'Ole cafe in Skipton in 2014, with the central Bradford location opening in the former Pavillion Cafe in 2019.

Neil said: "We have been overwhelmed with the support and the love that the customers, not only in Bradford but from across our other sites as well, have shared on Instagram and Facebook.

"I feel that the council have put out their position and I don't believe there will be any change in their position."

He added: "Because of the way we feel we've been treated I don't think we would want to be in a council property going forward."

Five members of staff will lose their jobs when the cafe closes, according to the owners.

"I'm absolutely gutted," Richard said.

"At one point it was the flagship cafe - it's the best place for anyone to go in Bradford and it's not just a cafe, it is a community."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "As a council we are required to get best value for commercial property rents.

"We regularly review our rents to ensure they reflect market conditions and an independent valuation of this site has shown the current rent is lower than it should be for a property of this type.

"We have been working with the Cake 'Ole for several years to support them in developing a more viable business model and to remain in their current location. Unfortunately this has not proven possible."

They added: "We're sorry they have decided to leave their Bradford premises and wish them the best for the future at their other sites in Keighley and Skipton."

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