Cafe Viena
Jo asks:
Does anyone know why Cafe Vienna is shut?
The Phantom replies:
Word on the street (and this IS only gossip so I can't guarantee authenticity) is that it's a licensing problem - ie. Cafe Viena doesn't have one. Wagging tongues tell me that there was a grace period but that's run out too now. I don't know when or even whether the grammatically-challenged caff will reopen or just move on to pastures new.
On a totally different matter, I also notice that The Alamo has shut after - what - six months? Of course I doubt that was a licensing problem - almost certainly much more to do with it being bloody awful - the worst Tex-Mex restaurant in Greenwich - and let's face it, considering the competition for that particular title, that's some achievement. Maybe it can go back to being a decent little cafe now.
Saucer of milk for The Phantom coming right up...
Does anyone know why Cafe Vienna is shut?
The Phantom replies:
Word on the street (and this IS only gossip so I can't guarantee authenticity) is that it's a licensing problem - ie. Cafe Viena doesn't have one. Wagging tongues tell me that there was a grace period but that's run out too now. I don't know when or even whether the grammatically-challenged caff will reopen or just move on to pastures new.
On a totally different matter, I also notice that The Alamo has shut after - what - six months? Of course I doubt that was a licensing problem - almost certainly much more to do with it being bloody awful - the worst Tex-Mex restaurant in Greenwich - and let's face it, considering the competition for that particular title, that's some achievement. Maybe it can go back to being a decent little cafe now.
Saucer of milk for The Phantom coming right up...
Labels: Ask The Phantom, News
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
14:17
12 Comments:
Yup looks like us Greenwich folk jus dont agree with "Texican".
The Alamo has shut down? Wow, that almost restores my faith in human nature. Almost. Maybe time for a central Greenwich Buenos Aires?
A few weeks ago there was a Council notice attached to the lamp post outside cafe Viena.
It looks as though the cafe had opened without getting planning permission for change of use. The Council had served a planning enforcement notice which the owners had appealed to the government Planning Inspectorate against. There was due to be a hearing into this appeal, but I don't know the outcome or any more details.
The question of whether planning policy and planning permission can play a role in looking after the vitality of town centres is perhaps a question for debate another time. Would the centr of Greenwich be better if it had less eateries and bars and more retial shops ?
I wouldn't personally want a Buenos Aires - or any other restaurant to open on the site of the Alamo. Why? Because it's minute - I'm convinced that part of the reason the place has been rubbish in every incarnation as a restaurant is down to the fact that the kitchen is the size of a toilet cubicle. No one can create decent food in an area that size. No - if we're going to have one, they need to bit the bullet and take one of the bigger places - ex-Pizza Luna, for example.
And yes, PeterB - I agree - planning permission is something we need to talk about - I'm surprised that Greenwich council has been allowed to shut down cafe Viena - after all they seem to get overruled by appeals to 'higher bodies' on most other things...
I forgot to add that that's why I think that what was The Alamo would work best as a simple cafe, serving very light snacks and cakes and superb coffee. Sadly I think the owners will still try to shoehorn another theme restaurant into the space. Any suggestions? How about Tibetan cuisine - all-yak? Or a North Pole theme - all-reindeer? Or give it an Outer Space theme, perhaps - all the waiters dressed as aliens, serving dried ice cream? Tragically, I suspect even that would be better than the Alamo was...
I hate to say it but I actually went twice to the Almo!! Purely for it's comedy value! An evening there was never dull! However, am glad it's closed as it was fairly dreadful.
Does anyone know what's happening with the boarded up Pizza Luna? I'm assuming that as there is work being done that someone has plans afoot for it?
What sort of idiot opens a cafe on the site of a travel agents and doesn't think about permission for change of use? perhaps the type of person who doesn't see the need for proper hygiene or food standards. As we have two well established cafes in The Standard, I hope they are gone for good and we get another shop.
PE
I am amazed most of the restaurants in Greenwich stay open, they are all empty in the week.
The Alamo - like Cafe Viena, it would seem - apparently failed to apply for planning permission prior to opening, ran until the end of the grace period, and then closed.
Surprising that the same people who though a third Tex Mex restaurant in Greenwich was a good idea also failed to secure planning permission for redecoration...
Perhaps they had no intention of staying - just milk it while they could, before word got around as to how awful they were, then scarper?
Viena is now opening as Standard Barbers who I would guess are the ones chucked out of the new B&B next to Standard DIY. Viena must have done a bit of a moonlight flit as the soft drinks machine is still in there...big place for a barbers
Yes - I noticed it was just about to open but haven't seen it in all its glory (+fridge) yet. Anyone been?
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