'Breach of terms': Council responds after Forde restaurant announces plans to leave Ilkley

A Bradford councillor has responded after a popular restaurant announced it plans to leave its current home in Ilkley following a dispute over its atrium seating area.

Earlier this month, Leeds chef and Forde restaurateur Matt Healy revealed that he intends to breach a clause in his lease at his restaurant in The Moors in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

In a statement on Facebook, Healy and his team claimed that Bradford Council, the building’s landlord, ordered the removal of changes made to an atrium seating area.

The restaurant said the decision is a major blow to its plans to survive and grow, and has reassured customers that it will remain at the site until late next year.

Forde operates two restaurants, in Horsforth and Ilkley.

Responding to the claims, Councillor Ian Eglin, Bradford Council’s executive member for Corporate Resources, said the authority is keen to support businesses in making their ventures successful, but that Forde has undertaken alterations which are not within the terms of its lease.

“We are keen to work with all our tenants, where we can, to help make their ventures successful without breaching terms of lease, planning or other regulations,” Cllr Eglin said in a statement shared with the Yorkshire Evening Post.

He added: “Forde restaurant has undertaken alterations to the property which are not within the terms of their lease, and up to now have not complied with requests to rectify the situation.

“We are working with the management team there to get the information needed to allow the Council, as landlord, to make an informed decision and ensure there are no breaches of terms of lease, health & safety, or other regulations.

“However, if this information is not supplied, we may have to take enforcement action.”

In a statement on social media announcing the move, Healy and his team said: “We love being in Ilkley and we’ve made some ace friends.

“We love our little restaurant too, however, when we took the lease in our little corner of Ilkley we made sure it was clearly stated that the atrium that sits aside Forde was permitted to be used as a seating area.

“After trialling the area with just tables and chairs, we realised that not everyone was able to enjoy the space without a struggle.

“Since we want everyone to be able to enjoy our restaurant, not just a select few; or the perfectly able bodied, we contacted the Landlords Agent requesting permission to make the seating area more safe and enjoyable.

“They sent their representative to a meeting where we gave details of the adaptations we wanted to make to the area.

“We were told it “wouldn’t be a problem” and later started work.

“Bradford Council and their managing agents have now, apparently, received a complaint. They have now insisted that this lovely seating area be ripped out, whilst refusing to discuss any other ways we could adapt the space to make it safe and compliant for all of our guests.”

Mr Healy spoke to the Yorkshire Evening Post earlier this year about the situation facing independents in hospitality as “blooming difficult”.

The restaurant's social media post this week added: “This seating area was an important part of our business plan before signing the lease and it is essential not just to survive, but try and thrive in this difficult industry.

“So - that said - we will soon be activating the break clause in our lease and we will, sadly, be leaving our lovely little corner of Ilkley.

“This won’t see us leaving until late next year.

“We wanted to give as much notice as possible to anyone who may have bought vouchers specifically for Ilkley, or those who have been meaning to come and not found the time yet.

“We appreciate all of you and look forward to welcoming all our customers, old and new, between now and us leaving this building.”