An illegal shisha cafe on the Curry Mile in Manchester has had a huge sum of cash confiscated and been slapped with a hefty fine.
Dubai Cafe on Wilmslow Road has had £174,074 of income confiscated for breaching a planning enforcement notice and operating as an illegal shisha cafe.
T&M Property Investment Ltd – the owner of the lease for the property – has also been ordered to pay an £18,750 fine and court costs of £5,700.
It was back in September 2018 that enforcement officers from Manchester City Council noticed that Dubai Cafe in Rusholme was being operated as a shisha bar.
The Curry Mile premises had also been altered without appropriate planning permission.
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The landlord was ordered to cease operating as a shisha cafe and put right all the works made without planning permission through an enforcement notice – which was ignored.
The Council entered the property on two occasions to seize shisha pipes and tobacco, but more than four years later found that Dubai Cafe was still being used as a shisha bar.
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Inside Dubai Cafe. Credit: Manchester City Council
T&M Property Investment Ltd was sentenced following a guilty plea at a Manchester Crown Court hearing on Friday 5 May to offences committed under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Councillor Gavin White, executive member for Housing and Development, said: “These premises had been operating illegally as a shisha café for a number of years and despite receiving enforcement notices from the Council to stop, they continued and have now been held to account through the courts.
“Local residents have had to put up with this criminal activity for too long and this judgement – along with the confiscation of their illegally obtained profit – sends a clear message to other businesses flagrantly breaking the law that we are looking for you and we will prosecute.
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“This case also shows that landlords can’t hide behind their tenants – they will be held responsible for criminality in their property.
“Operating a premises without the correct permissions is not only illegal but can also be dangerous. It’s a welcome result following months of hard work to bring a prosecution and ensure this property is safe.”
Featured image: Manchester City Council
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A Manchester City fan has died after a medical incident at Manchester derby
Daisy Jackson
A Manchester City fan has tragically passed away after a medical incident at the Manchester derby yesterday.
The club has confirmed that one of the club’s supporters died after collapsing during the match against Manchester United.
They wrote: “Manchester City are aware of the tragic news that one of our supporters passed away following a medical incident at yesterday’s match.
“The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with their family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
Man City and Manchester United faced off the Etihad Stadium yesterday, with Man United eventually taking the win thanks to a 90th minute goal by Amad Diallo.
An eye witness told the Manchester Evening News they saw the fan being administered CPR at around 4.10pm.
People have been leaving tributes to the Manchester City fan, who has not yet been named, online.
One person wrote: “RIP that city fan. No one should go to a football match and not come home again. RIP”
Another said: “An important reminder amongst all the squabbling over yesterdays result that the football isn’t everything. Thoughts are with his family, RIP blue.”
Someone else posted: “Rip blue. Thoughts are with your family and friends at this sad time.”
New ‘B Plates’ introduced so drivers can identify themselves as being bad at parking
Emily Sergeant
New ‘B Plates’ have been introduced so drivers who are bad at parking can identify themselves for all to see.
Consider yourself good at parking? Well, that’s bold of you to claim… because for a lot of us, we wouldn’t be so confident to say that, and it turns out we’re not alone either, as some new research has revealed that 48% of drivers think they could benefit from more training or assistance with their parking manoeuvres.
The new B plates – with the ‘B’ standing for ‘bad parking’ – are designed to be attached to a vehicle so you can apologise to other motorists for your lack of parking prowess.
On top of the 48% of bad parkers, the research by Scrap Car Comparison found that a further one in six (17%) say they have experienced stress or worry about having to park their car, while a third of drivers (30%) say they spend extra time searching for a parking bay with free spaces either side.
New ‘B Plates’ have been introduced so drivers can identify themselves as being bad at parking / Credit: Supplied
74% of new drivers aged between 17 and 24 say they could benefit from more guidance in lessons.
Overall, one in four motorists (23%) claim that they weren’t taught well enough when it came to parking maneuverers, according to the research.
It’s hoped that the new B Plate stickers will encourage drivers to ‘own’ their parking pitfalls, the company says, as well as seek the additional guidance required to gain more confidence behind the wheel.
48% of drivers think they could benefit from more training with their parking manoeuvres / Credit: Supplied
“Just like a P plate enables new drivers to ask for patience from other road users, our B plates will give people the chance to hold their hands up, say sorry and ask for forgiveness, if they know their parking leaves a lot to be desired,” explained David Kottaun, who is the Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison.
“We hope the plates also serve as encouragement for drivers to seek additional parking guidance to build up their confidence.”
Scrap Car Comparison are offering a limited number of B plate stickers to interested drivers for free if you fill out the ‘register interest’ on its website here, and then based on interest levels, they will be made more widely available in 2025.
Daisy Jackson -
9th May 2023 
