Cafe owner forced to close when neighbours complained about the smell of bacon and clinking teacups is back in business… after reopening just 100 yards away

A pub owner who was forced to close her business after locals complained about the smell of bacon and the sound of teacups has finally reopened 100 meters away from its original location.

Emma Ayles was left devastated when she had to close The Caddy Shack cafe and make eight staff redundant after a ‘storm in a teacup row’.

Residents around the Weymouth cafe complained that noise from her business was causing “unacceptable damage” to their livelihoods.

They claimed that the sound of clinking teacups and the rattling of cutlery in particular spoiled the peace in the area.

Pictured: The left arrow shows where the café was previously located and the right arrow shows the new location

Dorset Council sided with residents and forced Mrs Ayles, 48, to close her shop last December.

But after successfully applying to her local council, Ms Ayles has moved her cafe into a converted shipping container 100 metres from the complainants’ homes.

Mrs Ayles, a married mother of two, said she was pleased to be trading again and relieved that ‘common sense had prevailed’.

She said: ‘It’s been really great to be back open and we’ve been really busy, with customers coming in non-stop.

The Caddy Shack pictured in the old location, near the homes of locals who complained about the smell and noise

Dorset Council sided with residents and forced Ms Ayles, 48, to close her shop in December last year

The Caddy Shack Cafe at Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club in Dorset opened in April 2022 after moving from another location in the seaside town

‘We have 12 tables and as soon as one becomes available, it is taken by another group.

‘It’s a relief that common sense has finally prevailed, after we were shut down over something as trivial as the sound of teacups and the smell of bacon.

‘But that’s in the past now and it’s time to put that behind me and look forward.

‘The feedback has been very positive and we hope to employ ten people.’

Officials ordered Emma to close the Caddy Shack cafe in Weymouth, Dorset in December due to the ‘unacceptable damage’ it had caused to neighbors

After being told she had to close the cafe, Ms Ayles submitted a new application to Dorset Council, covering the business’ relocation

Ms Ayles opened The Caddy Shack Cafe at Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club in Dorset in April 2022, after moving from another location in the seaside town.

The rugby club, tenants of the land, temporarily helped her set up the site while she sought planning permission to make the cafe permanent.

The café was a popular meeting place for walkers, school children and disabled people on mobility scooters.

But three residents objected to the application in October 2022 due to ‘noise and odor nuisance’.

After being told to close the cafe, Mrs Ayles submitted a new application to Dorset Council, which involved relocating the business to another site in the Weymouth Rugby Club car park.

The local community came to her aid with messages of support and a petition on Change.Org was signed by more than 4,000 people within a month.

The revised plans were approved after the most vocal complainant dropped his opposition to them.

Mrs Ayles was forced to sack eight staff members after the ‘storm in a teacup’ row

There was a festive mood over the weekend as dozens of locals turned out to support the packed cafe as it reopened

In response to the revised plans, chief objector Robert Smith wrote earlier this year: ‘As neighbours who previously objected to the location of the Caddy Shack, we would like to say that we are pleased with the new location, where we originally proposed it.

‘None of the local residents wanted this business to close. We just wanted the matter to be closer to the rugby club again.

“It’s just a shame that the Caddy Shack and the rugby club have chosen not to consult with their neighbors.”

There was a festive atmosphere over the weekend as dozens of locals turned up to support the packed cafe as it reopened.

MailOnline contacted Dorset Council for comment.