Kaspa’s, a well-known dessert parlour located on the ground floor of the Vue cinema complex in Basildon, has been forced to close its doors after Basildon Council issued a forfeiture notice due to unpaid rent. The unexpected closure took many residents by surprise, as the dessert shop had been popular with locals. A notice placed on the window informed customers that the council had taken back control of the lease.
Rent Arrears and Council’s Actions
Cllr Gavin Callaghan, leader of Basildon Council, took to social media to clarify the situation, stating that Kaspa’s had not paid any rent since 2022. He explained that the council had been pursuing rent arrears for months and had made Kaspa’s aware of the potential consequences of failing to settle their debts.
Callaghan further explained that Kaspa’s had not provided full financial accounts despite being asked, and while the council had made efforts to support the business, including offering an outdoor seating option to boost trade, the business declined the offer.
Cllr Callaghan posted on Facebook, “Kaspa’s have been in arrears on their rent since 2022. In fact, they haven’t paid a penny in rent, despite signing a contract to say they would. They’ve been aware for months that the council was chasing the rent arrears and that action would be taken if they failed to pay.”
Council’s Next Steps
He added that the council had initiated negotiations with the owner earlier this week and would consider reopening the site if Kaspa’s either paid the outstanding rent or provided evidence that they could not afford to pay. If neither condition is met, Basildon Council will seek a new tenant for the unit.
A Basildon Council spokesperson confirmed, “As landlord for the property, Basildon Council has re-taken possession of a unit at East Square, Basildon.”
Kaspa’s Basildon has been approached for comment, but no response has been received yet.
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