Glasgow's Eusebi's Deli in planning row over 'eyesore' buildings outside restaurant

Eusebi’s Deli is at the centre of a planning row after erecting two seating areas outside, which locals fear are unsafe in the coronavirus pandemic.

A sign put up by Eusebi's to assure residents the structures are temporary

It’s rumoured the eatery spent £70,000 on the rented offending structures, which can withstand winds up up to 60 miles per hour and took two days to put up. The firm’s owner would not confirm the cost.

West End landlord Lynne Speirs branded the two buildings, which the firm says are temporary, unsightly and claimed they were disturbing the tenant of the flat she rents out above the restaurant.

The 56-year-old property owner said: “Our tenant is completely confused by it.

“When you pass, oh my God. It’s like the pyramids have been erected - but in cube form.”

It’s understood the council are looking into local complaints about the two buildings.

The restaurant has hit pause on use of the "dining pods" while that is ongoing.

Lifelong West Ender John Craig has been at odds with the restaurant for months and said he has been speaking with them “every day” about what he called the nuisance of people queuing outside his flat waiting for food.

“We’ve always had the issue with people hanging around the flat but for the last year and a bit it’s been really bad.

“A lot of that is down to lockdown and I appreciate that. But very little was done by the restaurant to combat that.

“Ultimately, they are responsible for their customers.”

John wants to see the restaurant bring down the structures because he says they are “violating” his privacy.

The issue has been taken up by local Scottish Greens councillor Martha Wardrop, who called on the firm to consider moving to other premises.

She said: “The installation of temporary structures by Eusebi’s Deli in Park Road is unauthorised and they are breaching planning regulations.

“There are vacant units available within the local high streets and town centres across Glasgow.”

John - who dines at the restaurant occasionally - said that he was subject to a “volley of abuse” by customers whenever he asked them to move away from his window.

“My wife doesn’t keep very well and she has had to resort to staying in our back room because she can’t put up with the hassle of people looking in the windows.”

The firm has been a favourite spot for people in the West End and beyond for its takeaway food service and was recently praised by comedian and regular customer, Janey Godley, on star food critic Jay Rayner’s podcast.

Since re-opening for outdoor dining, the firm has capitalised on relaxed licensing rules which allow bars and restaurants to take over large parts of the street to comply with social distancing laws in a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19.

The dispute centres around whether the structures require planning permission: Giovanna Eusebi, the restaurant’s owner, insists permission is not needed, but locals claim the structures, which take two days to pack away, are substantial enough not to be considered in the same category as gazebos and parasols.

Giovanna Eusebi pictured by Kirsty Anderson for Newsquest

Lynne has raised fears the “outdoor” seating areas are not Covid-safe.

The structures comprise of four walls and a roof, with a small window flap on the sides, to allow air to circulate.

The firm recently launched a social media campaign to keep the structures, which John branded as being “like emotional blackmail”.

He said: “They’re saying if you take these down then 50 jobs are at risk. But they don’t have planning permission and now they’re blaming everybody else. Why are they different to any other business in Glasgow?

“I understand that they need to get their business back on track, it’s been a hard year.

“I totally get that. But what I want them to do is keep their business to themselves and keep it away from me.”

Ms Eusebi, who started the business six years ago, insists she does not need planning permission for the buildings and defended her firm’s actions.

She said: “They are substantial structures but without them, I don’t have a substantial business, which keeps 60 people in employment.

“The public sector needs to work hand-in-hand with the private sector. We need the space to recover.”