Belfast City Council has released a statement after a North Belfast coffee van took to social media to announce they had lost their trading pitch after operating in the area since 2015.
Owner of Works Coffee Roasters Claire and Jim Mallon described feeling "devastated" as they received an email this week to inform them that they had lost their pitch in the Waterworks after selling coffee in the area for the past six years.
A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said: “The council has completed a procurement exercise for a trader to supply food and drink at the Waterworks.
“A candidate has now been appointed, having scored the highest in the procurement exercise, and unsuccessful applicants have also been notified of the outcome.
“While we regret any disappointment to unsuccessful applicants, the exercise was conducted in line with our agreed procurement process.
“Feedback is given at appropriate points, to all bidders, throughout the process, and we remain committed to working with local businesses and improving our parks for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
The couple took to Facebook yesterday to express their disappointment with the decision.
They said: “Regrettably, our Works Coffee van will close after this weekend. The Belfast City Council has ended our contract and another vendor wants to take our pitch. We were only officially notified just today by an email. This notification has been delivered to us just days before our contract ends.
“We first took on our contract with the BCC at the Waterworks six years ago. No one wanted to touch it, but we were up for the challenge. Back then, the park was desolate and practically empty. In the years that followed, we worked tirelessly and remained optimistic, that our park would once again become a vibrant hub of recreation for the community.
“Six years on, we are blessed with the most loyal customers and we have gained new friendships, both for which we will always be grateful. Our hatch has been open in all weathers, throughout most of lockdown and on many days, with just the ducks for company!”
Works Coffee Roasters continued: “But just like that, our main income will be taken away in a mere few days. Our idea and vision, not to mention our hard work to establish this service in the park, will also been taken too. We are told there is no appeals process and only a complaints procedure.
“We are devastated… because this has always been more than a business to us. We are born and bred here, raise our three children here and we simply ‘love here’. We genuinely feel that we had created something special and we are feeling a great sense of loss."
