The owner of a cafe that opened during the pandemic fears her business may not survive if their outdoor tables are removed. The cafe is one of many across Bristol told by the city council to remove outdoor seating as the temporary legislation introduced by the government in 2020 during the pandemic comes to an end.
Catalina Banados, who shares Cafe 5 with an Italian food business in Bruce Road, Easton has worked in restaurants and cafes in Bristol for the past 20 years and always dreamt of opening her own cafe. But she told Bristol Live that business is slow in the winter as the cafe, which a converted shipping container, does not have any space for indoor seating.
With the support of neighbours and the local ward councillor for Easton Barry Parsons, hundreds of people have written testimonials of the value the cafe brings to their lives. And they have plans to submit a petition to the council, which has so far not accepted it, saying the decision to remove the seating is not within its power or influence.
