British Museum faces inquiry over café site

The British Museum could be forced to remove two cafés from its Great Court, a Grade I-listed building. The cafés, operated by Digby Trout Restaurants since 2000, are the subject of an inquiry by Camden borough council, which claims the tables were installed without planning consent.

The north London council, joined by some heritage groups, said that canteen-style tables and stainless-steel service counters on either side of the historic Round Reading Room at the court's centre blighted one of Britain's finest buildings.

Liam Farrell, catering manager at the museum, said that moving the caf‚s to less prominent areas would lead to drops in sales for Digby Trout and revenue for the museum. Currently, up to 1,800 visitors use the cafés each day.

A museum spokeswoman said that original plans had located the cafés off the Great Court, but these were changed to make them more comfortable for visitors, who could also enjoy the views of the Great Court.

A Government ruling is expected next month over whether the cafés can remain in the £100m covered courtyard, which opened in 2000 after a total redesign by architect Norman Foster.