Salhouse cafe battle: Owner closes Radley’s and reveals she’s opening new cafe in a horsebox next to the broad

Radley's Coffee Shop. (Image: Archant)

For almost two years Radley's coffee shop and Prima Rosa on Lower Street have been competing for trade.

But the conflict, which at times has spilled out onto social media, has now claimed its first victim.

Kerry Radley, who opened Radley's in August 2014, decided to close her coffee shop for the last time yesterday.

The 44-year-old said it had lost out on holiday trade ever since Prima Rosa opened next-door-but-one.

Prima Rosa in Salhouse (Image: Archant)

But she now hopes to reclaim some of those customers by launching a new cafe - inside a modified horse box - next to Salhouse Broad.

'I feel a bit sad about closing, but I can't keep working for free,' she said.

'I decided to open at the Broad because there is nothing down there - it's a big gap in the market.

'It is a completely fresh start for us.'

Miss Radley previously said she had lost out on seasonal trade due to Prima Rosa being the first stop for people visiting from the broad.

The cafe opened months after her own in May 2015, and is run by Salhouse parish councillor Martin Nudd and his wife.

But Mr Nudd said they had 'no idea' of Miss Radley's plans when they put their bid in for the site in April 2014.

He said he did not think the new venture would have much of an impact on his trade in the future.

'I think it will have some effect, but you will have people who will get off their boats and walk into the village.'

Miss Radley said her new business, called Radley's Salhouse Broad Cafe, will be open from May to September and will sell food and drink.

Meanwhile, plans for a third tearoom, by the Woodbastwick Estate, have also been given the green light for Slad Lane following an appeal.