Former Masterchef contestant hits back at council’s rejection of Gower Deli opening hours extension
Christos Georgakis was a semi-finalist on the very first series of BBC’s MasterChef the Professionals in 2008, wowing judges Michel Roux Jr and Gregg Wallace with his Greek-inspired culinary creations.
Christos fulfilled a life-long dream of opening a deli, café and bakery in August 2024 in Southgate on Gower, influenced by the local food produce he had around him growing up in Athens in Greece.
However, despite the council offering support to set-up the business, the authority’s relationship with Christos seems to have soured.
Speaking to Swansea Bay News, Christos and his partner Leanne Richards said: “We’re deeply disappointed that our full application to extend opening hours has been rejected by the council. This included not just our hope to host evening wine tastings and small plates until 10pm on weekends, but also a modest proposal to open from 8am to 6pm during the week, for customers wanting early coffee runs or to call in to buy meals after work.
“Our plan was always to close at 6pm daily, with only slightly later openings on Friday and Saturday nights (9 pm last order). Other local businesses operate within these hours, which makes this decision all the more disheartening.”
“There is a pizza restaurant next door to us, open until 9pm and the Southgate Club just down the road, surrounded by houses, open until midnight. It’s absolutely baffling why they are allowed similar operating hours and we are not.”
“We already have planning permission from Swansea Council last year to open Friday and Saturday until 9pm. We just planned to extend the service by an hour, with the last drink and alcohol orders by 9 pm and then everyone leave by 10 pm. The licencing department has already approved the sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises up to 9.30pm every day.
“Just less than 100 feet away is the 3 cliff cafe and convenience shop which operate from 8-7 pm the summer which makes unfair competition for us.”
“The rejection letter states concerns about potential noise – but there’s a garage open next-door to me and operates from 9am every morning with people dropping their cars for services and repairs. So as far concerned the noise, that is a joke.”
The couple said that three objections to the extension of opening hours had been raised by members of the community, including one by the landlady of the building the Deli occupies.
Responding to the deli’s claims, a spokesperson for Swansea Council told Swansea Bay News that Christos’ claims are not accurate, and that the rejected licence extension application was for opening from 8am until 10pm, 7 days a week – not just on Friday and Saturday’s.
The formal rejection notice by city planners cites potential noise nuisance, stating: “The proposal to extend the opening hours of the premises, both earlier in the mornings and later in the evenings, is considered likely to result in the generaltion (sic) of noise and general disturbance (by comings and goings) at unreasonable hours, which will affect the living conditions of local residents to an unacceptable degree, contray (sic) to Policy PS 2 of the Swansea Local Development Plan (2019).”
Christos and Leanne said they were still puzzled by the council’s decision to refuse the opening hours application.
“It’s difficult to understand the rationale, especially considering we were awarded a business grant by Swansea council” Christos said, “support to grow, now overshadowed by a restriction that stalls that very growth.”
“This wasn’t the path we hoped for. It throws a real wrench into our plans to evolve and offer something special to the community. That said, The Gower Deli remains open as is—and we’re as committed as ever to the business.
“We’re not giving up, just finding another way, and will appeal. We’d like to thank the local community, from the bottom of our hearts, for their continued support.”
Meanwhile council leader, Rob Stewart has committed to look into the matter, responding the a social media post by the deli.
