Latest news with #DarrenBarrett
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
We've been trying to sell our flat for THREE YEARS – but smell from downstairs means nobody wants to buy
Darren has called on the council to do more about the situation, adding that 'it's been hell' for the family 'NIGHTMARE' We've been trying to sell our flat for THREE YEARS – but smell from downstairs means nobody wants to buy Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HOMEOWNER has claimed he has struggled to sell his flat for three years because an overpowering smell of food is pouring into the home from a restaurant below the property. Darren Barrett, 53, says all potential buyers have been put off the flat in the west end of Edinburgh because of "pungent" cooking smells. 2 Neighbours have been complaining about the smell for years Credit: GOOGLE MAPS The property is located on Queensferry Street and sits directly above The Vietnam Food and Coffee Shop. Back in March, we told how the Vietnamese diner was ordered to close by the local council after neighbours lodged several furious complaints over two years. The local authority ruled that the restaurant had caused 'odour nuisance' to residents and was ordered to be shut down. Owner Kim Dinh appealed the decision to the Scottish Government, which upheld the original ruling. But Darren has told the Edinburgh Evening News that bosses have avoided the notice, adding that they are still cooking meals despite being told they can only serve soup and sandwiches. A report from Environmental Health stated the overpowering smell is leaking into their homes due to holes in the ceiling and around the ventilation system. It smells like a Vietnamese kitchen every day in our home... It is pungent. It's so stressful having that smell in our home every night Darren Barrett And Darren said the smell is so bad that the family struggles to sit in the living room without all the windows open - even during winter. The dad said they have been trying to move away from the restaurant for three years, but haven't been able to sell the property. He explained that there is an official notice online informing potential buyers about the odour issue, which has put people off. Darren said it has been "heartbreaking" for the family, adding that "It smells like a Vietnamese kitchen every day in our home." Kris Jenner's 'struggling to sell' her Hidden Hills mansion as interested buyers feel $13.5m price tag is 'way too high' He said: "We can't sit as a family in the living room, that's been two years now. It gets into the hall as well, but it's at its strongest and worst in the living room. 'We had to go through the winter just there with our living room windows open every day to let the smell out, so it doesn't stink out the rest of the flat. It is pungent. 'It's so stressful having that smell in our home every night. The boys are in their bedroom instead of sitting with us, and my wife and I sit in the kitchen and have to watch TV in our bedroom. 'But our biggest concern is not being able to sell this flat, and that's the third year now, it's a nightmare for us as a family.' Darren has called on the City of Edinburgh Council to do more about the situation, adding that "it's been hell" for the family. Our biggest concern is not being able to sell this flat, and that's the third year now, it's a nightmare for us as a family Darren Barrett He said: 'They now seem to have just ignored the orders and are still operating as a restaurant, with the smell still invading our home every day. 'We managed to get some communication with planning today, after a month of trying, to say the restaurant has been sent a letter to say they have to close by June 20, or it will be passed onto the legal department, but we just don't know what that means exactly. 'They have been told they can still operate while serving food like soup and sandwiches, but not fully cooked meals. They had earlier said they were not preparing hot food, which is just nonsense.' Owner Kim Dinh told the Edinburgh Evening News that they were unaware of the ventilation and odour issues when they took over the premises in 2023 from previous owners Noodles and Rice. Years of complaints DARREN isn't the only neighbour who has complained about the smell coming from The Vietnam Food and Coffee Shop over the last two years. Another local claimed he was suffering from the stench on a daily basis for over a year and that the problem was impacting his mental health. He said: "Having to be in the position of explaining to visitors or guests why there is a 'bad smell' time and time again is embarrassing, frustrating and unfair when this should quite simply not be in use as a restaurant. "At times, we are faced with making the decision to heat the home and bear with the smells or leave windows open and be cold. "The fact that this issue has persisted for well over 12 months is mentally draining and stressful." Owners initially appealed the decision to close, and submitted a document to Edinburgh Council's planning committee which read: " The Vietnam Food and Coffee Shop is not just a business but a vital source of livelihood for a family supporting a disabled child. "The enforcement notice and subsequent closure have caused significant financial and emotional strain on the family. "The business has also become a valued part of the community, offering authentic cultural cuisine and supporting the local economy." But Government reporter Trudi Craggs upheld the council decision. The council said: "The use as a restaurant has resulted in odour nuisance being evident in the residential flats located above the premises and has resulted in the matter being brought to the attention of planning enforcement." They added that they were always upfront with landlords about their plans for the restaurant and "at no point" were told about any issues or informed about the unit being "unsuitable for restaurant use". Kim also explained that they tried to fix the issues regarding the holes and problems with the ventilation system, explaining that "the structural limitations of this older building made a full technical solution extremely difficult". They also rejected claims that they are "ignoring" the notice to close. Kim said: "First and foremost, we would like to express our sincere sympathy to Mr Barrett and his family. "We understand how distressing this ongoing situation must be for them, and we never intended to cause disruption to anyone's home life." We will begin the process of closing the restaurant. This is a heartbreaking decision for us. We have poured our energy, savings, and passion into creating a business Kim Dinh They added: "We have never intended to ignore enforcement — rather, we awaited the outcome of our planning application before taking irreversible steps to close the business, which would have had serious financial consequences for our family. "We will, of course, comply with the latest directive and begin the process of closing the restaurant. "This is a heartbreaking decision for us. We have poured our energy, savings, and passion into creating a business that contributes to the local area. "We worry this will represent a loss of cultural diversity and community offering in the neighbourhood." Bosses also called on councils across Scotland to share "complex histories" with small businesses planning on moving into new premises. The City of Edinburgh Council has been approached for comment.
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
We can't sell our Edinburgh flat due to the strong smell of food from the restaurant below
An Edinburgh family has been unable to sell their flat for nearly three years due to a strong smell of food coming from the restaurant downstairs. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Darren Barrett, 53, lives with his family above the Vietnamese Food & Coffee restaurant at 14 Queensferry Street in the West End of Edinburgh. But the family has been plagued by a strong smell from the restaurant which is said to be due to holes in the ceiling and around the ventilation system. He claims the restaurant has avoided a notice to close from the council's planning department issued in November and is currently facing closure this month after Darren and his neighbours fought the issue for more than two years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Darren and his family have been left unable to sell their flat and unable to sit together in the living room where the smell is strongest. He said the smell issue started with the previous owners Noodles and Rice, who moved into the unit in 2020 and left in 2021. But the problem started again when the current restaurant opened in March 2023. He said: 'There was a massive odour issue with the previous tenants, which concluded when the business exited. Then the new restaurant came in and it started again. 'Noodles and Rice had smoke tests carried out by environmental health which found there was insufficient protection between the flats and restaurant. It's just not an appropriate place there for a restaurant and that hasn't changed with a different restaurant being there. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's heartbreaking as we want to sell but we can't, as there is an official notice online that there is an odour issue at our flat, caused of course by the restaurant downstairs. the Vietnamese Food & Coffee restaurant at 14 Queensferry Street in the West End of Edinburgh. | Google Maps 'It smells like a Vietnamese kitchen every day in our home. We can't sit as a family in the living room, that's been two years now. It gets into the hall as well, but it's at its strongest and worst in the living room. 'We had to go through the winter just there with our living room windows open every day to let the smell out, so it doesn't stink out the rest of the flat. It is pungent. Our neighbours have also complained because the smell breaks the wall in the stairwell. As soon as you walk into the stairwell you can smell Vietnamese food. 'It's so stressful having that smell in our home every night. The boys are in their bedroom instead of sitting with us, and my wife and I sit in the kitchen and have to watch TV in our bedroom. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But our biggest concern is not being able to sell this flat, and that's the third year now, it's a nightmare for us as a family.' Environmental Health previously investigated the restaurant and established that there was 'significant cooking odour escape from the premises into the residential property above'. It added: 'This seems to be primarily due to gaps / holes in the ceiling and around the existing ventilation system allowing odour to escape.' Darren and his family have been left frustrated by the lack of action on the issue from the council's environmental health and planning departments, and say the family have been forced to endure two years of 'hell'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'We complained to the council and it took over two years to get them to take action. Environmental Health needed us to supply lots of evidence. We eventually got the environmental wardens to come out midweek at night to smell it for themselves and do tests. 'The restaurant was ordered to close, but they then appealed to the Scottish Government. They were given an enforcement issue in November 2024, which they appealed which delayed it for three months, and then they got another 90 days, which took them to May. 'They now seem to have just ignored the orders and are still operating as a restaurant, with the smell still invading our home every day. It's been hell. 'We managed to get some communication with planning today, after a month of trying, to say the restaurant has been sent a letter to say they have to close by June 20, or it will be passed onto the legal department, but we just don't know what that means exactly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'They have been told they can still operate while serving food like soup and sandwiches, but not fully cooked meals. They had earlier said they were not preparing hot food, which is just nonsense.' Responding to these claims, Vietnamese Food & Coffee owner Kim Dinh said: 'First and foremost, we would like to express our sincere sympathy to Mr Barrett and his family. We understand how distressing this ongoing situation must be for them, and we never intended to cause disruption to anyone's home life. 'However, we would like to provide some important context from our side. When we took over the premises at 14 Queensferry Street, we were unaware of any prior issues relating to odour or planning. Before signing the lease, we clearly informed the landlord that our intention was to serve hot food, and we even shared the concept for our Vietnamese café. 'At no point were we advised that there had been similar issues with the previous operator or that the building might be unsuitable for restaurant use. Had we known, we would have approached the situation differently from the outset. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'As newcomers to the area and to this type of commercial unit, we were not familiar with the local planning process or the specific history of this property. Our motivation was simple — to introduce a new cultural and culinary experience to the West End, and we have been heartened by the warm reception from many local customers, including frequent visits and positive reviews. 'When we received the council's letter regarding the odour issue, we acted in good faith to address the concerns. We engaged engineers, carried out multiple assessments, and spent a significant amount of money trying to resolve the problem. 'Unfortunately, it appears that the structural limitations of this older building — rather than any specific failure on our part — have made a full technical solution extremely difficult, regardless of the business type operating on the ground floor. 'Throughout this period, we have remained in communication with the council and have followed their guidance to the best of our ability. We have never intended to ignore enforcement — rather, we awaited the outcome of our planning application before taking irreversible steps to close the business, which would have had serious financial consequences for our family.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kim also confirmed the 'heartbreaking' closure of her Queensferry Street restaurant. She said: 'We will, of course, comply with the latest directive and begin the process of closing the restaurant. This is a heartbreaking decision for us. We have poured our energy, savings, and passion into creating a business that contributes to the local area. We worry this will represent a loss of cultural diversity and community offering in the neighbourhood. 'We hope that moving forward, planning authorities might consider clearer and more structured pathways for new small businesses entering premises with a complex history — rather than simply asking them to close down after the fact.' The City of Edinburgh Council has been asked for comment.
