A man in Norwich has denied running a sushi restaurant out of his home, despite hanging a sign over his front door and listing the property’s address and phone number on its Facebook page. The Norwich City Council has launched an investigation into whether or not the owner is falling foul of planning regulations, and a bar and seating for 24 people was found during the first inspection.
However, Orlando Williams – the owner of the house and formerly the owner of a Japanese restaurant in the town centre – denies any wrongdoing, and has rubbished claims that he has been running an eatery from his home since October.
“All I do, I have my name on my house,” Williams told a local newspaper. “There is no restaurant there.”
However, Williams’ neighbours claim that he invited them to the launch party last year.
“When my husband told me I was just dumbfounded,” said one. “I could not believe it. We are all up in arms because he didn't get planning permission for it. We thought surely we should have been notified.”
The local council is investigating, but despite finding seating and a bar, they found no evidence that the venue had actually been used as a restaurant.
"We are aware of allegations that the property is being used as a restaurant and when officers visited they found tables and chairs set up inside, as well as evidence that the property has been marketed as a restaurant," said a spokesperson for the local council.
“But unless it is actually being used as a restaurant, and we have evidence that customers have used it and dined in it, it doesn't require a change of use.”
