Cafe built inside former public loo wants to extend opening hours – but neighbours aren’t happy

A popular cafe in Saddleworth wants to extend its opening hours – but neighbours are worried it will destroy the ‘only tranquil place left’ on the high street. Grandpa Greene’s Bistro and Parlour on Wade Road in Uppermill has applied to stay open until 9.30pm from Thursday to Sunday. 

The cafe, run by a beloved ice cream business from Diggle, is currently only open from 9.30am until 4pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends, though it’s licensed until 7pm. The new cafe, built on the site of a former public toilet in King George V Park, has soared in popularity since opening, in part due to Grandpa Greene’s TikTok famous Sunday roasts – served on giant home-made Yorkshire puddings. 

The business has now applied to the council for its opening hours to run from 9.30am until 7pm Monday to Wednesday, with the later opening time in force from Thursday to Sunday. This would include extending their power to serve alcohol within the premises during those times. 

But some of the cafe’s neighbours are worried that the change will bring the ‘rowdy’ and ‘noisy’ culture of the nearby high street to the quiet residential streets around it. Eight objections have been raised against the application, which is due to be decided upon by the council tomorrow morning. 

Local councillor Helen Bishop contacted the local authority on behalf of residents, warning against ‘the encroachment of the lively nighttime scene into a quiet residential environment predominantly populated by an older demographic, who would be adversely affected’.  

And a long-term resident Bruce Mills, complained that Uppermill was already ‘awash’ with cafes and licensed premises. Mills lives on St Mary’s Gate, a sheltered road wedged between the highstreet and the park. 

He wrote: “Please – no more! I have lived here for nearly 50 years. It was peaceful once, it isn’t now.”

Local mum Isabelle Schläpfer worried about the impact the added noise and light pollution would have on her two children, who sleep at the back of the house – facing the cafe. 

“Are we now to be subjected to evening noise and light pollution from the tranquil side of our property as well as from the front in the very busy [high street]?,” she wrote. 

Other objectors raised concerns about anti-social behaviour in the ‘poorly lit’ and ‘rarely policed’ park, with long term resident Colin Taylor claiming to have already seen problems with ‘urinating up the walls, cigarette butts, youths using drugs, shouting abuse and threats’.

“Most residents are of pensionable age and of ill health,” he added, explaining that the added noise and safety concern would stop the elderly opening their windows at night, despite some of them ‘needing to do so for health reasons’. “Is this fair to have their quality-of-life suffering?” he asked. 

Officers have not advised the council on which way to decide, but following a consultation with the council’s environmental health department, the cafe owners have already agreed to conditions including putting up signs to remind customers to leave quietly.