1 week Ago
A cafe which was located in a former public toilet in Norfolk Square has closed after the council sold the building. Banjo’s sandwich shop occupied one of two kiosks in the Brighton square - the other occupied by Grinder and Cutter barber’s - which were previously public toilets. Paul Ritchie ran the sandwich shop for more than 20 years until Brighton and Hove City Council decided to sell both kiosks, reportedly for £130,000 each.
READ MORE: Parking restrictions to stop road being blocked by inconsiderate drivers Both kiosks were bought by Grinder and Cutter and Banjo’s has now closed. A spokesman for the council confirmed both businesses were assured they could continue occupying the kiosks even if they did not buy them. A Banjo’s customer said: “The owner spent over 20 years building a business and now he has lost it – poor guy.
” Councillor Jacob Taylor, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “During a cabinet meeting last year, we made a decision to sell the two kiosks in Norfolk Square. “Following that we’ve made every effort to ensure that the occupants had ample opportunity to buy the property they leased and reassured them that they could continue occupying the kiosks even if they do not buy them. “After being offered the opportunity to purchase their kiosk, the owner of Banjo’s informed the council’s agents that they didn’t wish to proceed.
“They said that they had instead decided to leave the unit following the end of their lease. Once this lease had ended, they vacated and returned it to the council.”.
