As custodians of public money, we couldn’t allow Quilligans to continue not paying Blackpool Council rent

“As custodians of public money, we simply couldn’t allow the owners to continue getting away with not paying what they owe,” - these are the words of a council boss as he hit back at claims Blackpool Council has failed to engage with the owners of a struggling cafe bar before their lease was terminated.

Blackpool Council changed the locks and terminated the lease at Quilligans in Church Street, Blackpool on Monday morning.

The team behind the family-run business which has been operating for more than 20 years in the resort said they were “truly heartbroken” to have “lost their family’s sole livelihood” and slammed the council’s actions as “aggressive”.

But Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment said he rejects “any suggestion that the decision has been taken without proper consideration” and the only way to resolve the issue would be by making a “substantial payment”.

In a new statement issued by Quilligans’ Cafe Bar, bosses said: “We are heartbroken, truly heartbroken, deeply shocked and devastated by the unannounced, aggressive action taken by Blackpool Council to execute a surprise lockout and change the locks on our family-run café on Monday morning.

“Quilligans has been a proud, independent staple of the Blackpool community for more than 20 years.

“This café is our family’s sole source of livelihood. To have our doors locked without warning, causing immediate financial ruin and allowing thousands of pounds of fresh food and stock to rot inside, is a heavy-handed act of bad faith by a public authority.”

But Cllr Smith said the council wrote to Quilligans in July 2026 setting out the authority’s position.

He said: “Quilligans owe a substantial amount of unpaid rent. Not paying rent is completely unfair on the many businesses who do.

“We haven’t had any engagement from Quilligans since we wrote to them in July 2026 setting out our position. That letter followed well over 12 months of engagement with the tenants who were under no illusion that as a result of the terms of their lease the rent must continue to be paid, irrespective of the engagement. They still didn’t pay.

“Even after the locks were changed on Monday, we’ve only received one email, to which we’ve responded, and to date heard nothing back.

“We reject any suggestion that the decision has been taken without proper consideration. If the tenant wishes to resolve this matter in a timely manner then a substantial payment would need to be made.

“No decision to terminate a lease is made easily, but in Quilligans case they reached a tipping point where they were taking advantage of the public purse.

“We don’t take any pleasure in terminating the lease. I feel really sorry for the hardworking staff who are the real victims. But as custodians of public money, we simply couldn’t allow the owners to continue getting away with not paying what they owe.”

But the the operators of Quilligans claimed they had taken part in active mediation including having meetings with Mark Smith himself.

The claimed they have had been met with months of silence from the council.

They said: “We are responsible local operators. Our Blackpool Council business rates account is fully paid and up to date. The rent non-payment is not a case of dodging bills; it is the result of a long-running, legitimate legal dispute that we have consistently tried to resolve.

“Blackpool Council has used a cold contractual loophole to bypass the court system and crush a 20-year local family business that was actively trying to negotiate in good faith.

“We have now engaged specialist commercial property litigators and are actively moving forward with urgent High Court Injunction proceedings for Unlawful Lockout and Relief from Forfeiture.

“We want to thank our loyal customers and the Blackpool community for the overwhelming support we have received.

“We will fight with everything we have to unlock our doors, protect our staff, and return to serving the community we love.”

Quilligans said they would also like it known they paid all their rent during covid when they were closed for 10 months.