Tunbridge Wells Coffee Bus Told to Move From Pub Car Park

A coffee shop bus faces a planning dispute with the local council, who say the bus has no right to be there. This business, called the Moving Mug, is located in Tunbridge Wells, but the community supports the coffee shop owners.

Maddy Harris and brothers Toby and Josh Jones built the café, calling themselves “professional idiots” online. Luke Derbyshire and his girlfriend Neive Taylor now run it, and they have a large Instagram following for their business.

The creators spent £25,000 converting the old bus, filming the process for social media. Since last November, the bus sits in a pub’s car park, but the council says operating a business there requires permission.

Neive Taylor said they thought they were using the car park wrong, but the car park owner is happy to have them. The council’s letter worried them at first, and they wondered if locals were complaining.

Customers advised them to start a petition, which quickly gained traction. It got over 700 signatures in just one day and now has more than 900 signatures. The owners also know the bus needs brake repairs.

After repairs, they can move the bus legally, although moving could risk their business insurance. The coffee shop now feels like part of the community, and the local support has been very heartening for the owners.

They are baristas who love coffee and didn’t plan to be a community hub. However, the Hawkenbury area needed it, and regulars now include dog walkers, parents, and office workers visiting for lunch.

Originally they had one week to leave, but the council granted an extension until March 10. Finding another place may bring the same problems, although they hope to travel in the summer.

Luke Derbyshire thinks the council’s actions are insulting to small businesses and that they are wasting resources. He also notes starting a small business in 2024 is tough, especially since the business was given to them for free.

Despite this, profit margins are very small, and the council’s actions show a lack of support. Customer Kris Boyes thinks the council should help more, as the coffee shop brings the community together.

There is no other shop nearby, making The Moving Mug easy to visit. A council spokesperson said they got complaints and have been speaking with the owners since December to address them.

The council hopes to resolve the situation informally. Because the bus is parked permanently, they say permission is needed, and the owners must apply if they wish to stay.