Bison Steakhouse Leeds: Restaurant owner hits out at council after car parking knock back

Rafi Butt, who runs Bison, in Beeston, wants to use the space at the council’s Dewsbury Road community hub, to ease the parking chaos around the restaurant.

Mr Butt has offered the local authority money to lease the car park, which is opposite Bison, between 7pm and 10pm. That’s after the hub closes, and Mr Butt has promised to be responsible for the security of the car park during those hours. But the council has turned down the approach.

Mr Butt, 56, claims the offer is a win-win for all parties, including the local community, who are said to be annoyed by customers of the burger joint parking on the pavement outside.

In its response, the council said the Dewsbury Road hub may be used in the evenings in future, which would mean they need the car park. It’s understood officers have also previously expressed concerns about the risk of anti-social behaviour if it’s left open in the evenings.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Butt said: “People are parking up on the footpaths because there’s no space further down and it’s double yellows anyway. It’s just causing hassle for people.

“We’ve offered the council money and promised to keep it secure, but they don’t want to know.

“If it’s empty and the council are going get something for it I don’t understand what the problem is. It’s a bit confusing.”

Bison is set to expand into a nextdoor premises, which will allow them to seat 100 customers indoors.

The business has been going for seven years and has flourished after the pandemic, with some customers coming from 100 miles away.