Hatton cafe thanks community for support during difficult time

The owner of a cafe at Hatton Locks has thanked her customers and the community for their support during a difficult few weeks.

Paula Poole, who owns and runs the cafe with her husband Kevin, has been overwhelmed by the amount of support they have received at the Hatton Locks Cafe.

The cafe closed in March due to lockdown restrictions but were able to reopen on May 13 for takeaways.

Paula said: "People have been absolutely lovely and so supportive and we have been overwhelmed by messages and notes left for us at the cafe."

The cafe also received support after having issues with people littering and drinking down the towpath.

Paula said: "Over the bank holiday weekend (May 23 to May 25) it was just awful it is not what this area is about - it's a family area and a lovely part of the world.

"It was like an invasion. There were just hundreds of people and they just kept pouring in. We couldn't leave because the roads were blocked."

Paula said the issues were caused by people going to the nearby Hatton Arms pub and they were then coming down the canal with their takeaway alcohol.

"The pub are in the exact same situation as us - they need to make money to carry on - but I think they went about it in quite an irresponsible way," said Paula.

"It was like people were being directed from the pub down to the canal and towpath."

Paula said that the bank holiday Monday was the worst day.

She said: "There were young lads jumping into the canal off the lock gates and they were also swinging off them. Our toilets were also broken into and used.

"We got abuse from people who were drunk. We have a licence as we sell the odd beer or two or prosecco for an afternoon tea. We stopped selling beer when it was obvious people were coming here and not to the Hatton Arms.

"Local people said they had never ever seen anything like it before here.

"The Canal and River Trust blocked off the car park so people couldn't bring their cars in but then people parked all over the roads. The police were back and forwards all that weekend.

After the bank holiday and because of social distancing concerns, Paula and her husband decided to close the cafe.

She said: "It was very unpleasant and it came all of a sudden. People were telling us they had driven miles and miles to get here because they knew a pub was open.

"I think it was all handled very badly and it made life very difficult for us.

"We took the decision to close as we didn't want to be a part if what was happening. Because of the huge numbers of people it was obvious that social distancing was just not possible. It was dangerous for so many people to be in one place.

"From the pub you can't see this part of the canal so they wouldn't have known what was going on.

"On Tuesday I returned to clear up and we cleared around nine black sacks of rubbish and someone from the Canal and River Trust came to help and they said they picked up 200 gas canisters.

"That has never happened around here - it's a canal conservation area.

"Legally the pub did nothing wrong but on a moral and social standing I think they fell badly short."

The cafe reopened on June 1 and Paula said the situation has been better.

"Since the weather changed it has been better and it seems to have calmed down. The car park being blocked off had helped.

"Someone also told us that the pub is now restricting the amount of drink any one person can buy."

Stephanie Ward, general manager at the Hatton Arms, said: "We are naturally disappointed to hear of any inconvenience that has been caused to our neighbours by the reopening of the Hatton Arms Pub as we looked to extend our takeaway service as a result of local demand and warmer weather.

"It has of course been a huge learning curve for us, continually seeking advice and guidance from EHO, licensing, and local police, with daily litter picking along the canal, implementing Challenge 25 , and limiting the amount of drinks sold with any takeaway food item.

"Many of the issues raised have been down to the continually changing advice from authorities, which has resulted in enforced rule changes.

"To our surprise Whitsun bank holiday weekend was rather overwhelming and apologies are due for the inconvenience it caused to some of our immediate neighbours.

"Safety is our top priority but we continue to listen to feedback whilst also doing our best to navigate the path ahead of a very uncertain time for hospitality – and with no clear guidance as to when things can return to normal.

"We look forward to soon welcoming guests joining us on our refurbished terrace for a traditional Hatton arms special and a tipple of choice."