A popular Newcastle restaurant has alleged it has been “persecuted” by council bosses, after announcing its closure.
Customers of the Geisha Bar and Restaurant in Jesmond have been left devastated after it emerged on Thursday that the Sandyford Road venue was shutting its doors and relocating to Benton. In a Facebook post confirming the news, the pan-Asian restaurant said it was “impossible” to keep trading and took aim at Newcastle City Council with a string of accusations – claiming it had been “victimised, persecuted and bullied”.
Geisha has been the subject of multiple planning rows with the local authority since it launched, including being ordered to pull down its front porch and remove a painted mural. The local authority said on Friday that it was “disappointed” by the restaurant’s allegations and that many were made “without any evidence”.
