A petition has been launched to "save" a popular seaside café in Sunderland over fears is could potentially close.
Cole Kitchen is an important pit-stop for many who take a trip to Roker and is renowned for its coffee and high-quality breakfast sandwiches - which regularly result in queues building up outside. But in December, the café and deli had plans refused by Sunderland City Council to turn into a hot food takeaway.
The council refused the application on grounds of residential amenity and health. A spokesperson for the council said: "A retrospective planning application for the use of Cole Kitchen as a hot food takeaway was refused planning permission, in strict accordance with the policies contained within the adopted Core Strategy and Development Plan, on the grounds of residential amenity and health. Following the refusal of planning permission an Enforcement Notice was served and to date, no appeal has been lodged."
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After the plans were refused, there were fears that the café, on St George's Terrace, could potentially close its doors and a petition has now been lodged in a show of support for the small business. So far, over 3,000 people have signed the petition, which is named 'Save Cole Kitchen - Don't let Planners close them down'.
A note on the main page of the petition reads: "Cole Kitchen is one of Sunderland's success stories, a business with a five star rating for hygiene, excellent reviews, clearly meeting community needs, attracting people to the area due to its reputation for high quality, locally sourced produce and customer service. It operated as a take-away for over two years under Covid Regulations but an application to continue as a hot food take-away has been refused by city development chiefs. It deserves our support and encouragement. Come on, join me in signing this petition and stop the chance of it having to close. Let our elected representatives know how passionate we are about Cole's."
Many who signed the petition have also shared their support for the deli, with one man saying: "It would be a real shame for Cole to close. Cracking sausage rolls. If the tram shelter can serve food, and the new plans for the café in Roker park to serve food, then why shouldn’t Cole be allowed to as well?"
Another wrote: "I love Cole Kitchen. It is such an asset to our beachfront. They do great food, excellent coffee and everyone is always so welcoming. It would be a shame to lose it. There is nothing else that compares on the beachfront!"
Another man who signed the petition wrote: "Cole Kitchen does some of the best food and coffee not just in Sunderland, but the entire region. To let such a great independent business go is so short-sighted and will be a huge loss to the area. It's such an asset to the seafront and must be kept going. It's madness to think why this is even up for debate."
In June 2020, owner Adam Cole resorted to transforming the business into a permanent take-out space after the covid pandemic made it near-impossible to reopen. The tables were removed and the deli was turned into a takeout space, with the menu being overhauled too in a bid to serve their customers.
The Cole Kitchen petition can be found HERE
The Chronicle has contacted Cole Kitchen for comment.
