The owner of a popular cafe has hit out at a council after he was given his marching orders from a town centre.
Federal Cafe Bar, which has two sites in the city centre, pitched its mobile coffee cart outside The White Horse pub, in Prestwich, two weeks ago.
In the two days it was there, its takeaway coffees and desserts proved a huge hit with locals and walkers.
However, Bury Council has since ordered Federal to move on as it says the the coffee cart was operating in an area where street traders are banned.
The 'legally prohibited trading zone' covers the area between Bury New Road, Fairfax Road and Rectory Lane in Prestwich town centre.
Claudio Ribiero, who owns Federal Cafe Bar, said: "The two days we were there, we did really well.
"We sold about 200 coffees each day.
"I was on private land so I thought it would be fine if I paid a little bit to the pub.
"Obviously that was incorrect and I needed to apply for a licence."
The brunch spot, which serves a menu of Australian and New Zealand dishes, has developed a loyal following since opening its first site in the Northern Quarter in 2014.
Its popularity led to it expanding and opening a second site in Deansgate in 2019.
However, both have been restricted to takeaway-only throughout much of the pandemic.
In an attempt to boost trade and bring some of his staff back from furlough, Mr Ribeiro opened a coffee cart in Altrincham Market back in January.
He says he wanted to the do the same in Prestwich and try to 'bring something different' the area.
Mr Ribeiro says he struck a deal with brewers Joseph Holt to set up outside The White Horse while it remains shut under lockdown restrictions.
Although he admits he 'should have checked' with the council first, he believes they could have done more to work with him.
He claims that when he asked whether he could apply for a licence to trade in the area, he was told not to bother by council officials.
He suspects another business may have complained to the council about the coffee cart.
"It's a shame because I would like to go back there," Mr Ribeiro said.
"I'm not trying to interfere with anybody else. We are trying to get back to normal and trade in some way.
"I live in Prestwich and pay my council tax to Bury Council.
"We should have checked, but the council could also have tried to understand that things are a little difficult right now.
"If the city council had the same view, we would never have been able to open last summer.
"Why can't Bury Council do something like that and allow that area (Prestwich town centre) to be a little more alive?
"I think they needs to be a little more open-minded."
A spokesperson for Bury Council said: “We have every sympathy for businesses who have suffered during the coronavirus lockdowns, and will do everything we can to help them through these difficult times.
“This person, however, had unknowingly set up in a legally prohibited trading zone. This has covered the central shopping district of Prestwich village since 1997, and is there to protect the interests of local businesses.
“He can, though, trade outside this zone, as long as he applies for a street trading permit, which would also allow our environmental health officers to ensure that his premises (van) meet food safety standards.
"We have sent him the relevant application forms and have been assisting him with the process.”
