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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Eleanor Perkins, 13 December 2017.
Jasin's Restaurant used in ITV's Liar to close amid claims of a disagreement with Deal Pier owners Dover District Council.
The owner of the cafe on Deal Pier says a disagreement over opening
hours is the reason he is leaving the prime site at the beginning of
January.
Jasin Kaplan, who runs Jasin’s Restaurant, claims he was in the
process of taking Dover District Council to court over a reduction
in opening hours, but has now decided to pull out of his 15-year
lease almost six years early to avoid it.
He has described the location, which was used for filming of ITV’s
hit drama Liar, as “one of the best in the world” and thanked his
customers for their support.
Jasin Kaplan in November 2013 who said that when flood gate are
closed, people with wheelchairs and buggies can't get to his
business.
Dover District Council says it has reached a mutual agreement with
Mr Kaplan to terminate his lease on January 1, 2018. A temporary
cafe will be set up before a formal tender process is launched to
select a new operator.
Mr Kaplan told KentOnline's sister paper, the East Kent Mercury: “We
were in the process of going to court but we’ve decided to pull out
of the lease.
“We decided it was better to leave. We didn’t want to pursue the
case any more. We have an agreement with DDC and all outstanding
issues will be sorted between us.”
Mr Kaplan opened his cafe and restaurant on November 21, 2008, and
had a 15-year open lease which was due to be renewed.
He has listed issues they disagreed over including electricity and
insurance, but mainly opening hours.
DDC has chosen not to respond to these claims.
He said: “When we signed the lease we were assured that the pier
would be closed only when there was a danger to the public. Of
course we complied with that because public safety is our concern
too.
“We had trusted the council but they started to reduce our opening
hours. We used to be able to open until 10pm in the week but they
reduced that in the winter time to 6pm.
“They wouldn’t let us open on New Year or Boxing Day. It was badly
affecting trading.
“We have been making payments and we’ve always been up to date with
the rent.
“We’re not into taking money from a public body. We pay our rent and
taxes on time so that our public bodies are strong and able to look
after us. We have come to the conclusion that it is not economical
for us to stay here. It is not a viable business venture.”
Jasin Kaplan of Jasin's Restaurant on Deal Pier.
Mr Kaplan says he will now put his time and energy into running his
fish and chip shop in Telegraph Road with the help of his wife and
daughter.
He added: “The pier is an iconic location, one of the best in the
world.
“We worked extremely hard to make Jasin’s Restaurant a magnet for
people to come to.
We hope we have served our customers well and done Deal proud.
“It’s time DDC invests properly on Deal Pier.
"They need to work with whoever takes on the cafe to ensure a good
service is given to the people of Deal.”
A spokesman for DDC said: “Dover District Council has reached
agreement with the current operator of the Deal Pier café to
terminate their lease on January 1, 2018.
"We anticipate that the café will continue to trade as normal until
the end of this year.
“It is proposed that a temporary café service will be put in place
as soon as possible in the New Year in advance of a formal tender
process to select a new operator.
"The concession was terminated by mutual agreement between both
parties. It would not be appropriate to comment further.”
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