13/02/2026
We just wanted to let everyone know why our pop-up gazebo is currently not up outside our building.
We invested in a lovely gazebo to keep you warm and comfortable during the colder, wetter months, so we could continue hosting you in our outdoor seating area.
Unfortunately, this decision has been taken out of our hands due to Wakefield Council requirements and permissions. We’ve been instructed that we’re unable to keep the gazebo in place, so we’ve had to comply.
We’ve been given several reasons for this:
1. The fire exit has changed — it is now positioned three metres directly in front of the existing one.
2. It increases fire risk — however, it is the exact same brand of tent currently used by the Council for events, and it is fully fire-retardant.
3. It could cause carbon monoxide poisoning — the gazebo is always partially open, and we invested in electric heaters.
4. It obstructs the highway — although the Council is able to place structures such as portable toilets at the side of our building on the highway during events, sometimes for up to a week.
We also note that during Council-run events, gazebos and tents are permitted around the Bullring and across the city.
We regularly attend meetings with the Council and Licensing, where we’re told they want to work with local businesses to improve the city. However, each time we introduce a new idea or try to enhance our customer experience, we face barriers.
At no point has anyone from the Council come to meet with us in person to view the gazebo or discuss the setup directly. As you are probably aware we would take the Gazebo down every night to comply with our cafe licensing rules.
It feels unfair for decisions to be made without a site visit or conversation.
That said, we are still here and open as usual — and we truly appreciate your continued support. Hopefully, we’ll be back under our gazebo again soon.
Thank you for sticking with us 💚
Wakefield Express 📰📝
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