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Sheriff rules council can knock down Cafe 52 terrace after owner’s bid to save it fails

The ongoing feud between Cafe 52 owner Steve Bothwell and Aberdeen City Council was heard in court on Wednesday morning.

Owner Steve Bothwell has been given two days to oppose the court's decision. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson
Owner Steve Bothwell has been given two days to oppose the court's decision. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

City chiefs have been granted a warrant to knock down Cafe 52’s outdoor terrace despite the owner’s months-long battle to save it.

Last month, Steve Bothwell launched a legal fight against the local’s authority decision to demolish the pavilion at Aberdeen’s Green.

Officials told him the area was needed to allow machinery in to build the city’s new £40 million indoor market yards away.

Mr Bothwell refused to remove the terrace by the May 31 deadline set by the council, and started a crowdfunder to cover the cost of his legal bills as he battled to save it.

Scores of fans of the restaurant pledged £11,500 to the cause.

Steve Bothwell outside Cafe 52 terrace. Image: Denny Andonova/DC Thomson
Steve Bothwell, Cafe 52 proprietor, took legal action against Aberdeen City Council. Image: Denny Andonova/DC Thomson

The local authority’s attempts to begin demolition works earlier this month were shot down as builders were turned away at the venue’s door by Mr Bothwell and his mum.

However, after more than two months of shots fired between the two parties, the council has now been granted legal permission to gain entry and tear it down.

City council lawyer: ‘This has caused significant delays with new market’

The case went before Sheriff Christine McCrossan at Aberdeen’s Sheriff Court on Wednesday morning.

Lawyer for Aberdeen City Council, Dan Byrne, said the application was simply “to enter land in order to remove an obstacle”.

The Cafe 52 pavilion on the Green, from the edge of the Aberdeen market construction site. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

He explained that the case called at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Tuesday, where Scotland’s supreme civil court ruled that it would not be illegal to demolish the structure.

Mr Byrne added: “The matter is urgent from the perspective of Aberdeen City Council.

“It relates to a major infrastructure project at Aberdeen Market, due to start this month.

“It has already been subject to considerable delay arising from this dispute.”

Cafe 52 owner given two days to explore ‘other legal options’

Solicitor for Cafe 52, Alan Innes, said efforts could yet be made to waylay the demolition and pushed for the court’s decision to be delayed.

He asked for an extra seven days to see if there was another way for Mr Bothwell to keep the structure in place.

This would “allow for further discussion”, he added.

But Mr Byrne stressed that top legal minds had already said there was “no legal impediment” to the hut being destroyed.

The view of Cafe 52 into its leafy outdoor seating area in 2018. Image: Christ Sumner/DC Thomson
The view of Cafe 52 into its leafy outdoor seating area in 2018. Image: Chris Sumner/DC Thomson

However, as an olive branch to Mr Bothwell, he said the council would not take any action until after 5pm on Friday.

This, he explained, would allow the businessman the chance to explore further legal options to save the hut.

Or, he offered, it would give him the chance to “enter into further discussion with the council about how to remove the obstacle”.

Sheriff McCrossan said there was “nothing to prevent the court granting this warrant”, giving council builders the go-ahead with demolition plans.

She later refused Mr Byrne’s attempt to recoup legal fees from Cafe 52.


Attempt to demolish Cafe 52 outdoor terrace waylaid as owner and mum turn workers away

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