That Old Blue Bean Magic!

alip · Post by **alip** » 25 Jun 2009, 08:23

Hi folks, It's been a while since I followed the Talk Porty chat, and I do miss the old days! I remember those very funny threads about the old boss 'Mr Grumpy' at the Blue Bean. Are they still around in the archives, or did they all get flushed away? Things must be looking-up for the cafe, seems they've gone from strength to strength since the kitchen refit in 2006. Chips on the menu! Never in my day lad... When did the Blue Bean start selling chips, must have been after the 2006 refit? I remember there was a time you couldn't even get a fried egg roll! I even heard the BB is about to start evening opening again, anyone confirm that? They had a brief spell of evening opening just at the end 2006, but apparently they didn't have consent to open after 8.00 in the eve (cheeky). They must have sorted that out. Anyway, the sun's out, the cafe chairs are all in place up and down the High Street, looks like a great summer for Porty.
Cheers to all,
Ali.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 25 Jun 2009, 08:46

Hi alip, there is indeed some classic stuff from the early days. If you use the search facility you should find anything you are looking for. There has been the odd accidental deletion but other than that everything is still there in all its glory for the amusement of future generations.

There are various threads relating to the Blue Bean over the years. Try this one:

http://forum.talkporty.org/viewtopic.php?t=391

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 26 Jun 2009, 16:52

The tuna and red onion sandwiches are still good. I had not been to the BBC for more than a year until recently. What a difference!! The place seems much roomier and pleasant.

I think he was referred to as Mr Bean not Mr Grumpy. He barred Dadaist or his Mrs over something totally banal.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 26 Jun 2009, 20:24

Edit- let's cut to the chase. Are you looking for some dirt on the frying and late night opening- to nail the owner for some reason?

alip · Post by **alip** » 27 Jun 2009, 13:31

OK, the subtle approach was too transparent. Here's the deal; I live directly over the Blue Bean and for many years pre 2006, I was quite happy coping with a little noise from the kitchen (due to rubbish sound separation - plus it all stopped about 4.30 in the afternoon) and the odd niggling odour problem. In 2006 the cafe fitted out a new kitchen designed for restaurant use - 6 ring cooker range and a deep fat fryer. They also around that time began evening opening, which I put a stop to through Planning Enforcement. Their permitted hours of opening are actually 08.00 to 20.00 (classed as daytime use). Because the original consents are so old and rubbish, and designed for a reheating consent cafe, I have virtually no legal protection against the increased odour and noise nuisance the cafe now causes. E.g. the new (2006) extractor fan and hood is mounted directly under the floor of one of my bedrooms and rumbles away throughout the day. The old fan was wall-mounted and inaudible. In 2007 the cafe did apply for extended hours but were knocked back on the grounds of noise and odours. Check this for yourself - 07/00614/FUL on the Council Planning Portal - ignore that it's apparently only for a change to the street windows and click through to viewing the application - select documents and open up the sub-comittee report. A read through that will verify the opening hours and the withdrawal of the extended hours proposal. (Had they got permission to open, they would have had to make major changes to the premises to sound insulate their activities, and prevent odours - new consents offer much more amenity protection to neighbours!) There's also the problem of the flue - in the original consents this was supposed to go up to the ridgeline of the roof. For some reason, even though it was a part of the consents they issued, the Planning Department accepted plans for and allowed the fitting of a flue that terminated just above the gutter. (about 3m lower than it should be) In the right wind directions (westerly!!!), the odours flow down the back of the buiding and into any open windows or doors. This odour problem is of course worse since the expansion in cooking practice post 2006. I'm still trying to find ways to force the cafe to scale-back to pre-2006 levels of cooking and reheating etc. The cafe always did have very specific permission to allow the cooking of soup and use 2 microwaves (1987 consents). One possible route I have is to prove the deep fat fryer was never present before 2006 (or even 2003 when the cafe changed ownership, but I think it's definitely 2006). I know the cafe never previously sold chips or other deep fried foods. In fact I think all their hot rolls from before 2003 were prepared in a microwave, which is why there was never a fried egg on the menu. If anyone can help me out with the 'when did chips come onto the menu' question, that would be great. Also I've seen references to 'offspring' doing summer jobs at the Blue Bean - it would be nice to get some info from them about the kitchen.

Thanks in anticipation, alip.

PS, with regard to the 2004 'firearms incident' involving the many Police cars, locksmiths etc, I was in France at the time and only found out there was a problem when I arrived back. Only the outer pane of my double-glazed windows was broken, and the broken glass had rebounded out to give the impression of a blow from inside. I followed it up with the Police, and the Police report read something like this - no signs of any trouble... but the flat was a bit untidy!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 27 Jun 2009, 16:32

It wasn't very subtle! Sounds like you are very frustrated and if your version of events is accurate, you have a justifiable grievance.

The issue with the flue is surely a matter for building control rather than planning. Was there a completion certificate issued by the council. As for the equipment pre 2006 - I believe that the has beans or at least one of them, stil reside in this area. Maybe they can help?

alip · Post by **alip** » 27 Jun 2009, 18:04

Hi Porty,

Yep, been there, done that. No completion certificate was ever issued. But someone did provide a photograph to show that the flue was painted the right colour though!

Building control would only have worked with the plan that came forward with the Planning application, which was for a short non-compliant flue. The drawings were dodgy from the start - in the elevation showing the flue on the back of the buiding the roof is massively foreshortened, and the top of the flue appears to touch the ridgeline, but it's also clearly dimensioned at 1 metre above the gutter.

Even though the cafe consents still require a flue that terminates at the ridge, Planning say they can't act as the flue has been in place for 10 years and is therefore exempt from enforcement. I tried arguing that the consent still stood, and that it was only the physical metal object strapped to the back of the building that was exempt, but they didn't want to play.

Next you'll ask about Statutory Nuisance for odours. I involved Environmental Services very early on, but this unfortunately coincided with my starting a loft conversion. Environmental Services refused to visit until I finished the work. Other than the steel beams and roof windows, I've been doing most of the work myself, hence the long time it's taken. Finishing very soon though which is why I'm ready to revisit this whole thing again.

Yes, absolutely right, I'm very frustrated.

And yes, if there is any 'has beans' still living locally I would appreciate their input. Just point them out

Alip.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

That Old Blue Bean Magic!

That Old Blue Bean Magic!

Help with BB history!

The flue story....