A café in Cromwell has been told by the Central Otago District Council that they are only allowed 12 seats inside and outside the premises, severely limiting business. Owners Jimmy Fairweather and Katie Funnell, who bought the Black Rabbit Kitchen & Bar a year ago, say that they face the possibility of going broke due to the bureaucratic madness.
"It's turned into a nightmare, and it's a nightmare we can't get out of because we are financially invested in it. If we have these restrictions put on us we will end up going broke and that will be the end of this," Fairweather said.
At the time of purchase the restriction were not disclosed – Fairweather said that if they had known, they wouldn’t have bought the business in the first place. Previous owners had no idea of the restriction, which only came to light after a neighbour opposed the cafés application to renew a liquor licence.
"I said [to council], 'you must have been in here over the years and realised there was more than 12 seats inside and 12 seats outside'. They said unless there is a complaint they don't do anything. It's ridiculous. All the tables that are here now were here before, and there was seating for about 40 inside and 40 outside when we bought the place."
A petition has been started with over 2000 people voicing their support for the couple – just under half of the entire population of Cromwell.
