Newhaven Beach Cafe Owners Kicked Out Amid Licence Chaos
The owners of Newhaven Beach’s popular ‘Lins Cafe’ were abruptly told to pack up and leave. At the same time, beachgoers are now forced to pay £2 just to access the beach until 8pm — a hefty blow for the new fish and chip van trying to get a foothold in the area.
From Dream Cafe to Nightmare Lease
Back in August 2021, Lin’s Cafe set up shop on West Beach Promenade after buying a catering van with landlord Rosnick Ltd’s blessing. Business boomed quickly, attracting regulars from Hastings, Tunbridge Wells, and even London.
By December 2021, Lin had bought and begun renovating a Portacabin, investing around £10,000 on top-notch kitchen fittings. The dream cafe doors finally opened in February 2022, becoming more than just a spot for coffee and cake.
Reality Bites: Rent Hikes and Dodgy Licences
Two weeks after opening, Rosnick shocked traders with a rent hike. Lin’s weekly rent soared by £20 to £1,040 per year. On top of this, communal bin services were dropped, forcing a private bin hire fee hike from £560 to £700 monthly — 75% higher than what Seaford traders pay, despite Seaford offering free parking and toilets.
Even worse, Lin discovered Rosnick didn’t hold a proper lease but an interim licence for the site. They still paid rent on time but were hit with unfair charges like an electricity bill split equally among traders, despite Lin having a meter proving lower consumption. This apparently annoyed Rosnick.
Binned via WhatsApp and Parking Fees Raised
Then came a humiliating public WhatsApp message demanding Lin leave due to “broken down communication” and complaints about “rudeness, opening times and food wait.” Rosnick gave them until the end of the month to vacate.
Adding insult to injury, Rosnick extended chargeable parking hours from 8am-5pm to 8am-8pm right when the new fish and chip van started trading — a move likely designed to stifle competition.
Rosnick’s Mega Grant Plans Clash with Traders’ Reality
Reports say Rosnick Ltd could bag up to £4 million in a Levelling Up grant to build a swanky new restaurant at West Beach. But the current small traders like Lin’s Cafe claim they’re already doing the community proud.
Attempts to reach Rosnick hit a dead end — all they provide is a postal address via a Polegate accounting firm. Meanwhile, the Newhaven Port Authority confirms Rosnick controls the promenade and its activities, urging complaints to go directly to them.
MP Maria Caulfield has stepped in, confirming the land belongs to Lewes Council and that she’s making urgent enquiries to get to the bottom of this seaside saga.
