Green Finch Cafe

25/06/2026

For anyone who fancies a Green Finch cake..... We are holding a charity event this Saturday.
Everyone welcome. It will be located next door to where the cafe previously was.
We hope to see you there 😊

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.