Green Finch Cafe

20/12/2023

BOOK NOW ➡️. https://air.tl/rgVtgnco

🥂 Sleeps 4
🥂 2 Bedrooms
🥂 2 Bathrooms
🥂 Private Hot Tub & Garden
🥂 Open plan kitchen, dining & living space
🥂 Located in Lancaster, UK

04/06/2023

08/10/2022

UH OH ....HERE WE GO AGAIN !!!!

Sadly, despite us planning to restart the café,

LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL are now putting obstacles in our way suggesting that even for a small, pop-up version of the GREEN FINCH CAFÉ, they would require full planning permission and that this would most likely be refused !

Why ?

1. They suggest that there are too many food outlets in Glasson Dock/Conder Green.

Yet, you recall that when we couldn't get a mortgage, THEY TRIED TO INSIST we should keep the cafe open.

WHEN WE WERE ABSOLUTELY DESPERATE THEY WERE TOTALLY UNHELPFUL AND CALLOUS.

We had to find a way to back them into a corner to allow us to change use and secure a mortgage.

2. They now suggest that all options to fill the empty shops in the town centre must be explored first.

So the suggestion is that we would get planning permission if we apply to fill an empty shop in the town centre, but won't get permission in Conder Green.

This with the knowledge that there are already too many food outlets in Lancaster Centre already. Adding more when the country is heading for the worst crisis in years would be completely barmy.

So there you have the current situation. The country heading for another 'Winter of Discontent ' and LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL CONTINUING TO BE UNHELPFUL & CALLOUS.

THEY FEEL JUSTIFIED ALLOWING PLANNING PERMISSION FOR 8,000 NEW HOUSES ON GREEN FIELDS AT BAILRIGG BUT WON'T LIFT A FINGER TO HELP RESTART A POPULAR SMALL BUSINESS.

Please do keep signing our petition if you already haven’t. Eventually it may prick someone's conscience at Lancaster City Council & common sense may prevail, though we're not holding our breath.

15/09/2022

So finally, we have some good news to share with you.

We have managed to back both the bank and the Council into a corner and secured a mortgage AND got planning permission to convert the existing cafe building into an apartment.

Choices....choices !!!!

All the aggro could have been avoided if anybody at the large organisations WOULD SIMPLY LISTEN TO A SOUND ARGUMENT AND ADMIT THEIR POLICIES AND CRITERIA ARE CRAP !

Can we also be clear that ALL the local politicians of all colours have also been DEVOID OF IDEAS AND PASSION and have been UTTERLY LACKLUSTRE. No wonder the country is in a mess.

The RICS (Surveyors) have been equally complicit; lacking independence & integrity and simply ceding any claim to be a reputable profession.

All the local mortgage brokers were simply apathetic, but luckily we had contact with a couple from East Lancashire who were tenacious and unwavering in their support.

That and our determination and refusal to accept being 'gaslit' eventually prevailed.

It must be said that all the support offered by you people in signing the petition and offering suggestions proved invaluable, especially when you feel all those in power are discrimating against you.

However, on more positive note our plans for 2023 are to look at creating a 'pop up' version of the Green Finch Café.

We based this on the thinking that though we have a mortgage for the next few years, THE DINOSAURS AT THE BANKS may well throw up the same issue when we next remortgage.

We have also lost our staff and sold some of the equipment in response to trying to find a way through.

The current cost of living and energy crisis will also effect many small businesses and trying to build the cafe back up to where it was might be more difficult in the current climate

So we have started fitting out an area already and have plans to work on over the autumn & winter to look at offering the 'pop up' Green Finch in Spring 2023.

The location is great. The coffee (& tea) will be good. The food will be varied & vibrant. And we've ordered lots of sunshine too.

Once again big, big thanks for your support. It makes a big difference knowing people are interested and behind you.

We will keep you updated via the café website
www.greenfinchcafe.com
and on our page.

Homepage for Green Finch Cafe at Conder Green. The new name for the cafe adjacent to the cycleway footpath from Glasson to Lancaster.

07/03/2022

https://www.change.org/p/politicans-lancaster-cafe-survives-covid-but-cannot-survive-the-banks/u/30302223

Once again wow ! 500 signatures and counting. The support and positive comments are very welcome at this stressful time. You may have read the update, whereon despite offering minimal support to save the cafe, the local council have refused permission to change the use to residential. Why ? They wou...

06/02/2022

DID you realise that all the takeaway coffee cups in Lancashire end up BEING BURNED by, or on behalf of Lancashire County Council. EVEN THE 'COMPOSTABLE' ONES !!!

The compostable cups require 'INDUSTRIAL COMPOSTING' which is sealed, regularly rotating and at a certain temperature. There is no facility to provide this in Lancashire !

Paradoxically, a company in Kendal can repurpose the 'non compostable ' coffee cups.

So we were starting to look at a scheme where ALL THE COFFEE SHOPS IN THE LANCASTER AREA could use appropriate cups and ensure they were collectable and could be repurposed.

We had spoken to the people responsible for the Shrewsbury Cup to see how their system works. They have a different method BUT most of the coffee shops in Shrewsbury take part.

Alas, this is another local initiative we can't pursue in light of our imminent, forced closure.

Sad, when we should be encouraging thoughtful, workable environmental ideas.

And if you think local businesses with good ideas need supporting rather than discouraging, then check out these 2 petitions for 2 local businesses in Glasson Dock.

https://chng.it/8dH4MxZdrB

https://chng.it/b28tpxXWv4

30/01/2022

220 inner tubes and 70 tyres sent for recycling. Thanks to all who dropped them off.

Sadly another facility lost for the Glasson Dock area now that the cafe is forced to close.

Remember that Lancashire CC simply chuck bicycle tyres & tubes in landfill !

If you think we should support local businesses to 'build back better ' there are 2 petitions trying to raise these issues and look to the decision makers to respond to local needs.

1.The Green Finch Café
https://chng.it/xrfP28tt

2. The Victoria Pub
https://chng.it/b28tpxXWv4

PS: Even the valves go for recycling in the metal skip.

Result.

23/01/2022

https://chng.it/8dH4MxZdrB

It is with great regret that we need to inform you that Green Finch Cafe will not reopen in Spring 2022 nor anytime soon.

Despite being popular and financially viable and weathering Covid, we are forced to close simply because of the arcane lending criteria of the banks and building societies.

We need a new mortgage deal on the house, Railway Cottage which we live in next door to the cafe.

Because the house is next to the cafe we cannot get a mortgage. This includes via Lloyds, Natwest, Halifax, Cumberland, Furness, Skipton, to name a few.

5 brokers have tried and failed.

Politicians of all colours from Lancaster, Morecambe and Lonsdale are aware and have simply shrugged their shoulders. Local councillors have done the same.

The theory is that if the house were ever repossed, it would be difficult to sell being next to a business, a business which belongs to the owners of the house.

The loan to value is around 50% at worse and probably much lower.

To recap. The business is viable and popular. We want to run the business. We want employ people. We want to provide a nice cafe in a lovely spot.

We and indeed you might not be able to change this but this petition gives you all a chance to voice your concerns.
Express your dismay !Ask why this silly rule is in place ?Ask why no one in authority is bothered about changing this ?Show your support for small local businesses, a business which in turn supports other small business in & around Lancaster.Show your support for small businesses which provides employment. Businesses which have survived Covid and should be essential to 'Building back Better'.

If anyone needs more detail or information please dont hesitate to contact us. We have been at this for over a year and really have asked all the questions and explored every option.

Thanks for your support.

Lancaster Cafe survives Covid but CANNOT survive the Banks

04/11/2021

Just a quick reminder that we are now closed for the winter season. Thank you to all of our customers for your ongoing support. See you in spring. 💚