Stoush over Block Arcade’s historic Hopetoun Tea Rooms intensifies
Heritage authorities are now embroiled in a bitter dispute between the owner of the Hopetoun Tea Rooms and the Block Arcade management.
Victoria
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Heritage authorities have become embroiled in a “high tea” stoush involving one of the city’s most famous culinary establishments.
Heritage Victoria is the subject of a complaint to the Victorian Ombudsman amid a dispute over a cake stand and other items belonging to the former Hopetoun Tea Rooms.
Hospitality operator Vikram Singh bought the business after it was liquidated earlier this year, but his bid to reopen it at its iconic Block Arcade site was thwarted.
Block owner, the Cohen family, declined to give him a lease and instead opened a new business there called The Tea Rooms 1892.
Mr Singh, who is relaunching Hopetoun Tea Rooms at another CBD location, said Block managing director Grant Cohen was trying to pass off the new business as a continuation of the iconic Hopetoun brand.
“All we want is for the landlord to stop confusing current and future customers by saying it’s business as usual for the original tea rooms, and they have been saved by heritage, which isn’t true,” he said.
Mr Singh wants Hopetoun signage removed, but his request for Heritage Victoria to enter the premises and assess the situation has been refused by the Block.
Mr Cohen disagrees with Mr Singh’s version of events.
Mr Cohen said Heritage Victoria got involved in the issue after the Hopetoun’s new owner indicated he wanted to remove the shop’s wallpaper and carpet during a visit to the site in July with the liquidator and former owners.
Mr Cohen denied he was trying to pass off his new venue as Hopetoun, saying “the most important thing is that we are the tea rooms at the Block Arcade, and that’s where the tradition lies”.
In the complaint to the Ombudsman, liquidator SV Partners denied there was any threat to remove wallpaper and carpet. It also said there were “grave concerns” about the conduct of Heritage Victoria and its “relationship with the landlord”.
A Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spokesman said Heritage Victoria could not legally remove fixtures without written consent of the Block’s owner. The Block is also on notice for alleged infringement of the Hopetoun brand in separate legal action.
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