A Bristol restaurant owner said his business is being placed under 'tremendous strain' because Bristol City Council plans to increase its rent by nearly 74 per cent.
Jerry Aaron has run the council-owned Mud Dock, which also houses a bike shop on the ground floor, for 25 years but said he now faces a possible backdated payment in excess of £100,000 as the council proposed a 73.6 per cent rent hike from 2015 onwards without telling him.
Up until 2010 he discussed the rent levels 'amicably' with a council representative but in 2015, when the latest review took place, he said it was done in private and he was not made aware of the increase despite emailing the council twice to ask in 2016.
Then in March 2018 he claims the council informed him that an independent surveyor had been brought in to investigate all outstanding reviews, and that Mud Dock's annual payments will be almost 74 per cent higher.
A council spokesperson said that discussions are ongoing with Mud Dock to come to an arrangement, adding that an arbitrator will settle it if no agreement is reached.
But Mr Aaron said he does not want to do this as the process can incur huge fees.
"My wife and I took the building on in 1993 when it was dilapidated and spent what resources we had on restoring it to what it is today," said Mr Aaron.
"Every five years since then our rent has been increased by around 20 per cent and that's what I expected it to be this time around. I did not expect the increase to be nearly 74 per cent and I can't understand why I was only told about this three years after the review took place.
"I will simply not accept it. I do not want to go down the route of an arbitrator as the costs are significant, so where does that leave us?
"The annual increase on top of the backdated amount of over £100,000 is simply unfeasible for a small business and puts us under tremendous strain.
Mr Aaron added he employs 34 people and has significantly increased the city's cycling profile, not just through Mud Dock but by being one of the three people who brought mountain biking to Ashton Court.
He therefore thinks the council's treatment of his business has been 'unfair' and goes against the city's proud independent spirit.
"Independent businesses attract people from all over to Bristol and yet the council is squeezing a popular and long-running independent business. It's incredibly short-sighted," he said.
The council's full statement reads: "Rent levels of commercial leases are regularly reviewed by an independent surveyor who negotiates the new rent with the council and tenant.
"If no agreement can be negotiated then the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors appoints an expert or arbitrator to set the level of rent independently."
