A couple running Caribbean food outlet, the Grub Hub, on Margate’s Harbour Arm since 2019 say they are not planning to move out despite Thanet council serving them notice to quit.
Iston Burrell and Patricia O’Donaghue had their tenancy terminated by Thanet council after negotiations over a new lease broke down but say they believe they are being unfairly targeted.
The Margate parents-of-three were told to be out of the unit by February 19 but say they have retained the keys and are requesting Thanet council comes back to the negotiating table.
In 2019 the couple signed an agreement as licensees of the unit with then-leaseholder of the Harbour Arm Graham Knight of Margate Harbour Arm Ltd to pay £420 per month inclusive of electricity and water. That agreement was detailed as running until February this year.
Thanet council took back control of the Harbour Arm in 2021 and has drawn up new lease agreements.
But Iston and Patricia say they are being asked to pay almost double in rent, at £8000 per year plus VAT, plus electricity costs dated back to initially 2022 but now to last year and are required to pay for works to install a toilet at the council-owned premises. There is also a service charge of 15% of the rent and parking for tenants has been removed between April and September.
Patricia said: “We have been in negotiations with the council since they took the Harbour Arm back in hand but they decided in December to give us notice to quit.
“We are an inclusive venue both for local people and welcoming in tourists and are the only Black owned business on the Harbour Arm.
“We do not want to leave our business as we have put a lot of time and energy into it.
“The council originally stated they would not be increasing rents but this doesn’t follow that statement and now they want us to pay to install a toilet in our unit.”
The couple, who are being supported by their regulars, say they just want Thanet council to agree reasonable lease terms.
Patricia said: “We have had four different individuals (from Thanet council) who have left in the middle of negotiations. The last one handed us notice to quit and has now left the business and we have not heard from the new contact.
“We have tried to do everything in the correct way but had notice to quit sent to us over the Christmas break.”
Patricia says they have lodged a complaint over the way the situation has been dealt with.
She added: “We feel discriminated against because we are inclusive for our clientele. We are not leaving.
“I have requested sight of the surveys conducted on the units on the Harbour Arm and details of the terms offered to the other businesses on the Harbour Arm under the Freedom of Information act.”
The council has been negotiating Heads of Terms for new leases since last June. Four versions have been drawn up over that time with some concessions on areas including longer lease terms and a discount on legal fees.
A council spokesperson said: “The management of the Harbour Arm in Margate reverted to Thanet District Council in February 2021. Since then, new leases have been negotiated with the businesses operating there.
“The council does not disclose the terms of individual leases which are commercially confidential.”
