Shocked café owner to fight on after closure for 'operating unlawfully'

Caravan at the Cottage was created during lockdown in Allesley



The heartbroken owner of a business born during lockdown that has been forced to close has vowed she will not go down without a fight.

'Caravan at the Cottage' has operated from the driveway of an address in Browns Lane, Allesley, since December 31, 2020, after Jade Wilks lost her job in the hospitality industry as a consequence of Covid-19.

Despite initially serving just hot chocolate and pork and stuffing batches, the venue's reputation grew as did their offer which soon offered a variety of coffees along with an ever-evolving hot and cold food menu.

People queued to sample what was on offer while the business also developed a formidable online reputation, with nearly 5,000 followers on its Facebook and Instagram channels.

However, the Browns Lane operation came screeching to a halt recently after Coventry City Council deemed it was 'operating unlawfully'.

While the business continues to serve customers at a temporary new venue at the Assembly Festival in Coventry, as well as at events such as Spon Street Market and Coventry MotoFest, its Allesley venue is closed for the foreseeable future.

"I'm heartbroken about it if I am being honest," said Jade, 27. "This all started as a quick fix for some income after I lost my job and it fast became a community hub. There's just nothing like it anywhere near us.

"It was at a time when people were once more locked down and couldn't eat in at restaurants or cafes, or have a beer in a pub. We turned our little grey shed into a blue cafe on wheels and the momentum that followed was amazing. We've made life-long friends and gone on an amazing journey."

Jade was forced to close the original location due to not having sufficient planning permission.

"We sent our application into the council back in January," explained Jade. "We didn't hear back from them for months and months. We had experts look at our plans and say they were fine.

"Ultimately, I don't feel they've worked with us on this at all. They sent an enforcement officer to our house with no warning or before they said anything was wrong with them.

"We are lucky enough through the caravan to have bought our second vehicle, but there’s something about that little caravan on our drive that makes us serving from home really special. I guess it’s because it’s just like that, serving people from our home.

"The customers became like family and I think that’s what we will miss the most.

"It's hard to figure out how we're going to get in ourselves in a position to re-open it, but I will not go down without a fight."

CCC hang your heads in shame!