Illegal shisha café on Curry Mile has £174k confiscated after breaching planning law

A café on the Curry Mile has been found to be operating as an illegal shisha bar and forced to hand over £174,000.

T&M Property Investment Ltd, the owner of a 999-year lease for the property which it let on Wilmslow Road, has had £174,074 confiscated after breaching a planning enforcement notice.

The company has also been ordered to pay a fine of £18,750 along with court costs of £5,700.

T&M Property Investment Ltd was sentenced following a guilty plea at Manchester Crown Court hearing on May 5 to offences committed under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

What happened?

In September 2018 Council enforcement officers became aware that Dubai Café, operating from the building owned by T&M Property Investment Ltd, was being operated as a shisha bar in contravention of planning permissions in place for the premises. 

Officers also noted that physical changes had taken place inside the premises, undertaken without the appropriate planning permission.

An enforcement notice was therefore issued which ordered the landlord to cease the operation as a shisha café.

All works that did not have planning permission had to be removed.

Councillor Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “These premises had been operating illegally as a shisha café for a number of years and despite receiving enforcement notices from the Council to stop, they continued and have now been held to account through the courts.  

“Local residents have had to put up with this criminal activity for too long and this judgement – along with the confiscation of their illegally obtained profit – sends a clear message to other businesses flagrantly breaking the law that we are looking for you and we will prosecute.

“This case also shows that landlords can’t hide behind their tenants – they will be held responsible for criminality in their property. 

“Operating a premises without the correct permissions is not only illegal but can also be dangerous. It’s a welcome result following months of hard work to bring a prosecution and ensure this property is safe.”