The Sun
PAINT JOB I have to scrub paint off my shop as nightmare neighbour claims it ruins ‘historic feel’ of town – but everyone LOVES it
July 31, 2025
SHOPOWNERS have been forced to scrub paint off the outside of their café after a nightmare neighbour claimed it ruined the “historic feel” of the town.
Council officials have ordered the bosses to get rid of a giant teapot painted on their 700-year-old building but the owners say everyone loves it.
Two men in aprons stand outside their tea room, with a queue of people waiting.
Owners Tony and Thomas Vickers say they didn’t realise they had done anything wrong
The Old York Tea Room storefront, closed.
The owners say the sign was ‘tasteful’ that ‘reflected the beauty of the building’
A 700-year-old building’s painted teapot sign being removed.
Council ordered the Vickers to remove their sign from the Grade I listed building
Tony and Thomas Vickers proudly had the name of their Old York Tea Room professionally hand-painted above their business in the heart of historic York.
But the cursive artwork triggered a bureaucratic backlash after it emerged the work was done without planning permission on the Grade I listed premises.
A local heritage stickler launched a one-man protest accusing the couple of “vandalising” the building.
Despite backing from hundreds of customers, and even support from Hollywood legend Bette Midler, 79, city council bosses ordered the sign-writing to be painted over.
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Town hall planners condemned the black-font lettering and teacup logo as “too dominant”.
Tony, 46, who launched the tea room with partner Thomas, 45, in February 2023, said: “We paid a lot of money for the sign and we didn’t realise we had done anything wrong.
“We did it without permission because we were naive, and when we put in a retrospective planning application we thought we’d reach some kind of compromise.
“We created a tasteful sign that reflects the beauty of the building, and yet we’ve been treated like it’s vandalism, or like we’ve put up a massive neon sign.
The Vickers said the signage was designed to reflect the historic charm of their 14-seat café, formerly a candle shop in one of York’s oldest buildings.
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But the paint job sparked fury from a local campaigner, who compared the lettering and teapot to defacing York Minster or Buckingham Palace.
Gordon Campbell-Thomas, 75, even staged a one-man protest outside the tea shop, bearing a placard reading: “This is vandalism”.
He said: “The building dates back to 1316 and is a Grade-I listed, meaning it’s of similar importance to York Minster, St Paul’s Cathedral, or even Buckingham Palace.
“Not only has the café business scrawled the words The Old York Tea Room; it has a large brown teapot in the process of appearing to pour tea.”
York City Council claimed the sign “detracts from the building’s exceptionally fine architectural and historic character.”
The appealed decision was then upheld by the Planning Inspectorate who concluded that the “playful” paint job had a “harmful impact” on the building.
The couple now fear potential customers will walk past them on Lady Row, which dates back to 1316, because they are unable to fix any signs to the building.
Tony and Thomas are instead using a sheet of painted plywood to advertise themselves to customers – but fear that too may fall foul of council officials.
Thomas said: “This wasn’t just a sign. It was part of how we survive. Without it, people don’t even know we’re here.
“We only have space for a few tables upstairs so we are reliant on takeaway coffees and cakes.
“If York wants to become a museum instead of a living city, they’re on the right path, because businesses can’t survive like this.”
Among the tidal wave of support was Hollywood legend Bette Midler, who backed the Vickers in their fight to keep the sign.
Outside the tea room, customers said the original paintwork had made the street “more pleasant” and “added warmth”.
York resident Nicola Topp, 43, fumed: “I absolutely loved the sign. It was tastefully done, all hand-painted in beautiful cursive. It added character and charm.
“If they’d said make it a bit smaller, fair enough. But to say it has to go entirely?
“They’ve been totally singled out. It’s hard enough running an independent business – you’re trying to pay taxes, cover insurance, pay the mortgage.
“And insurance on this building is astronomical because it’s one of the oldest houses in York.
“To me, being the oldest house in York should come with more privilege, not more red tape.
“The sign suited it perfectly and respected the building’s history.
“You’ve got Tesco right across the street with A-boards, an ATM stuck in the wall, and no one bats an eye. But a hand-painted teapot is apparently crossing a line.
“It’s pure hypocrisy.”
The tea room posted on Facebook ahead of its whitewash, telling customers: “We will look quite different and we are so worried folks will just walk by. Please don’t forget where we are.
“Our signage will be gone. We have tried so hard to keep it but the time has come.
“We do hope those who demanded its removal are happy with themselves.”
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Mr Campbell-Thomas posted pictures on social media outside the newly-whitewashed cafe, giving a thumbs-up.
He said: “It’s been a long road, I personally have been vilified on social media and threatened with violence by people who disagreed with the stance we were taking, but I’m pleased that sanity has prevailed.”
The cafe has now been given a white-wash to remove the sign
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