Flipping great! Daughters can keep running late father’s burger van

Two women can keep running their father’s burger van after his street trading licence was transfered to them.

Ragan Newton and Jade Vallance asked Brighton and Hove City Council to be allowed to take over the licence held by their late father James McCue.

Their request was approved, meaning that they can keep running the burger van in Clarence Square, outside Churchill Square shopping centre in Brighton.

They told a panel of three councillors – David McGregor, Sam Parrott and Kerry Pickett – at a hearing at Hove Town Hall last Thursday (22 January) that their parents ran the business for more than 40 years.

The family had adapted its offer to meet demand, including selling fruit and vegetables, Christmas wrapping paper and mobile phone accessories.

For the past 10 to 15 years, they had focused on food sales – burgers and hot dogs.

The panel heard that there had never been any issues or complaints about the van – and the family had always paid their pitch fees in full and on time. The business also has a five-star food hygiene rating.

The pitch had a waiting list. It is the only council-licensed site in the centre of Brighton where a street trader can serve hot food and drink.

Other hot food vendors outside Churchill Square are on the shopping centre’s land and do not require a council licence.

Mrs Newton said: “I understand it has become a desirable pitch and I understand why people put themselves on the waiting list.

“In our view, it’s become desirable because over 40 years we’ve built it and established it.

“If someone else were to take over, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can have overnight success.”

Mrs Vallance said that the business used local suppliers who, along with staff, were worried about the business’s future if they were not permitted to keep the licence.

She said: “Even though this is our family legacy, we want to make sure the business is ethical and we’re offering social value to Brighton.

“Our family are from Brighton. My Dad was born in Brighton. My Mum was. Our business has always been here. And we want to make this something that continues but also changes and adapts to the modern world.”

The panel agreed there were good grounds to grant the transfer.

The council’s decision said: “This is a stable, long-established small business that employs local staff and uses local suppliers.

“Fees are paid when due. It has become part of the culture of the local area and community.

“The street trading policy currently does not permit transfers and is not clear as to when a pitch becomes available so as to notify those on the waiting list.

“In this case, as the stall has been in continuous operation, the panel considers that it is not available in this sense.”