Restaurant confirms plans to leave town after dispute over seating area

A popular restaurant has announced it plans to leave its West Yorkshire home, blaming a dispute over its outdoor seating area.

Leeds chef and restaurateur Matt Healy and the team behind Forde, who say they have “made some ace friends” since opening in Ilkley have revealed they intend to activate a break clause in their lease at the site in The Moors.

The news comes after the team claim Bradford Council, the landlord of the building, ordered changes to an atrium seating area to be removed.

The restaurant says the decision is a major blow to its plans to survive and grow in the challenging hospitality industry.

The team have reassured customers they will remain at the site until late next year.

In a statement on social media, Matt and the 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.”

Matt Healy, who also runs Forde in Horsforth, 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.”

Bradford Council has been approached for comment by the YEP.