A café owner is closing down his business after being deluged with online abuse over a seafood war which broke out in a Highland town.
Paul Eddington, who runs The Gallery Cafe in Ullapool, is shutting up shop after a bitter row over a new seafood takeaway.
Kirsty Scobie and Fenella MacRae were given permission to open their Seafood Shack as long as they do not trade within a 490ft radius of a shop or restaurant selling similar products.
But the nearby Gallery Cafe has fish dishes on its menu and has complained to Highland Council about the fare on offer from its new competitor.
Locals have accused Mr Eddington of deliberately changing their menu to scupper the new operation. But he said he often changes the menu.
He said: “The consequences of the council’s mismanagement is that they have absolutely failed us and we are being portrayed as villains trying to shut this new business.
“That couldn’t be farther from the truth. We applaud the girls for their entrepreneurship and we do not seek to put them out of business.”
He added: “We are going to cease trading at the Gallery Café on Saturday.
“We have been receiving abusive phone calls to our business and staff, as well as online abuse, so we took the decision that could no longer continue trading there.
“The abuse has been disgusting and is completely unacceptable.
“We have been vilified on social media with talk of boycotts of our business and some very hurtful and vindictive personal comments directed towards us from people who are not aware of all the facts.
“The impact of that on us personally and on our hardworking staff is intolerable.”
An online petition in support of the new venture has attracted more than 3,800 signatures in two days.
Miss Scobie could not be contacted for comment last night, but told the Press and Journal previously: “It’s horrible, the whole thing. The Gallery Café sold paninis and cakes.
“We spoke to the council about the traders licence and they said they didn’t think we sold similar products so it should be OK.
“When we started trading, the Gallery Cafe changed its menu and added seafood and now we are told we are in breach of our contract because we are selling similar things.
“We understand the Gallery is trying to promote itself – what we are upset about is that we were allowed to go this far.”
