Christopher Cappuccio at the Rembrandt fish & chip restaurant in Easton.
Photo: Bill Smith
Is enough being done to help small businesses? Norfolk restaurant owner blasts lack of support
Lucy Wright
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
10:08 AM
A restaurant owner is considering putting his business up for sale after claiming the government does not do enough to help small business owners.
Christopher Cappuccio has run the Rembrandt restaurant in Dereham Road, Easton, with his partner, Lucy Benna, for seven years.
Mr Cappuccio, known as Skip, said he is considering putting his home and restaurant on the market because small business owners are not being given enough help from the government.
He said the final straw came when he received a letter from Breckland Council telling him to take a his advertising sign down, which was on private property close to the A47 at Hockering. Despite checking the rules and regulations of signage with South Norfolk District Council, he did not realise the area where he erected the sign was part of Breckland council’s area.
“Breckland said it is not their policy and that somebody has called them and complained but the more money I make, the more tax I pay.”
Mr Cappuccio, 45, served for 14 years in the RAF where he worked as an electrician. His father, who moved from Italy to the UK, used to own the Super Fry chip shop on Magdalen Street.
The Rembrandt has been a fish and chip shop for the past 17 years.
Before Mr Cappuccio and Ms Benna took over, it was owned by Ms Benna’s father.
“It’s not worth carrying on at the moment. I just don’t know what to do any more.
“I hope I have served the community during my time here.
“Three members of the same family work for us.
“I am passionate about what I do but right now I am so angry.
“Breckland District council didn’t offer us any advice, the letter just said we had to take the sign down.”
Do you have a business story? Call Annabelle Dickson on 01603 772426 or email annabelle.dickson@archant.co.uk
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9 comments
When his partner's father, Mal Motta, kept the Rembrandt there were no shortage of customers. Many nights it was common to have to wait to get a table in the restaurant and the shop was hardly ever empty with queues out of the door. With the extra houses built in Easton and Bowthorpe sice Mal kept it, the local customer catchment area has improved.
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mike smith
Thursday, August 16, 2012
most people will travel miles for good fish n chips so reputation by word of mouth costs nothing - trick is though - it's got to be good - and that's not what i've heard.
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GTOM
Thursday, August 16, 2012
most people will travel miles for good fish n chips so reputation by word of mouth costs nothing - trick is though - it's got to be good - and that's not what i've heard.
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GTOM
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Employ a sandwich board walker, similar to the chap who stands at the guardian-dereham rd roundabout. That will put one over the control freaks.
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nrg
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Does he open all day on Saturdays? i got the feeling he didnt.
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bookworm
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
By the same token of his argument, I take it he would have no objection to people shoving signs on his land to advertise their own businesses. And maybe Breckland can shove a sign there too for free.
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expat
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Oh grow a pair for goodness sake. You are clearly not losing money, otherwise there would be a whinge in this article about making losses. You were wrong to put up this sign and you are no doubt smarting from not getting your way. End of the matter. Throwing your toys out of the pram is the behaviour of an immature child. And as for the EDP this us yet another ridiculous article- they really needs to filter out the "eejit stories" and focus on actual business related articles.
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merrydancer
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Well said Noah Vale, and credit to Breckland for trying to cut down visual pollution. Checking the map would have been a good idea before asking the council about the sign...?
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littlesharpie
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Why should he be allowed to erect unsightly signs illegally? There are far too many ugly & unauthorised signs littering our countryside.They are a distraction to drivers & contaminate our verges & lay-bys.Let him sell his chip shop if anybody wants it.
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Colonel Grumpfuttock-Horseposture (retired)
Wednesday, August 15, 2012