You've got to feel for London restaurants. Things are not easy at the moment what with profits being squeezed by business rates, energy costs, and more. So we're doubly sympathetic to the plight of the beautiful Petersham Nurseries in Richmond which also has an unhelpful local council to contend with too.
The issue for the restaurant at the nurseries right now concerns the desire to open for dinner in the evenings. For over a decade, this has been possible with the occasional supperclub, but Petersham are hoping to offer that option more regularly. In a newsletter sent out today, they explain how they've been working with the council for almost two decades to achieve this.
"Our negotiations have been an unusual, protracted, and expensive process," the letter goes on to say. "We have now received an Enforcement Notice to cease our evening operation and are currently in the process of appealing against this."
The Green Michelin-starred restaurant already has a licence to serve alcohol in the evenings but the sticking point is that it doesn't currently have planning permission to serve food and drink beyond 5pm. Without the ability to run a regular dinner service they say that jobs at the restaurant will be at stake.
If you'd like to help, you can write a letter of support to the council and find out more through this link.
More about Petersham Nurseries
Where is it? Off Church Ln, Petersham Rd, Richmond TW10 7AB
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @petershamnurseries
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