Renoir Tea Garden tenant fighting eviction

The owners of the property, George and Maisie Le Page, have started Royal Court proceedings against Natalia Silvester, trading as CB Catering Ltd, after one month's rent was paid a few days later than it was due earlier this year.

The court case is the latest episode in what has become an increasingly hostile relationship between the owners and tenant since they agreed a multi-year lease on the property, which has links to the famous Impressionist painter and Victor Hugo, in July last year.

Mrs Silvester said she had already spent about £50,000 refurbishing the tea room, which she reopened last October, and that the latest setback would not deter her from making a success of the business.

‘I am planning to retain the business,’ she said.

‘My plans to trade for the next few seasons are unchanged. I am certainly motivated to keep going.’

She said she did not want to comment further before the proceedings in the Ordinary Division of the Royal Court come to an end, which Lt-Bailiff Simon Howitt expected to be in several weeks’ time, once the court had fully considered the arguments it had recently heard from both parties.

Mr and Mrs Le Page’s advocate, Robin Cowling, told the court that his clients were seeking an eviction after the late payment of rent in February.

Under the terms of Mrs Silvester’s lease, she was required to pay rent one month in advance on the first of each month.

When rent for February was not paid on time, an email was sent on 9 February informing Mrs Silvester that she would be evicted.

An earlier email had been sent saying that eviction proceedings would not go ahead if the rent was paid before the eviction email was received.

The rent was received a couple of minutes after the eviction email was sent, by which time the Le Pages had decided to press ahead with eviction proceedings.

Advocate Robert Breckon, acting for CB Catering, said the first email was sent to him and he forwarded it to Mrs Silvester about half an hour after receiving it.

He said it was therefore incorrect to claim that the rent had not been paid before the eviction email was received.

Renoir Tea Garden continues to trade and Environmental Health recently awarded it five stars for food hygiene – the highest mark available.