Prague Begins Removing Restaurant Verandas from Old Town Square

On Wednesday, 25 September, Prague authorities began the forced removal of unsightly restaurant verandas from Old Town Square.

The removal comes after a lengthy legal battle with the owner, K.V.P. Gastro, which had refused to comply with a terminated lease agreement.

The city initially cancelled the lease with K.V.P. Gastro over two years ago, on 14 June 2022, citing aesthetic concerns and the impact on the cultural value of the square.

Despite the termination, the company pursued legal action, allowing it to continue operating the verandas while the court proceedings were ongoing.

However, the court ultimately ruled in favor of the city, paving the way for the dismantling, which is now being carried out under police supervision.

Specialists from the Prague Technical Communications Authority have been on-site, disconnecting the verandas from electrical systems to ensure a safe removal process.

Under the original lease agreement, K.V.P. Gastro was required to remove the structures at its own expense following the cancellation. Yet, despite numerous appeals from city officials, the company failed to act.

As per the terms of the agreement, K.V.P. Gastro faces fines of 10,000 CZK per day for delaying the removal. Over the past two years, the fines have accumulated to more than 8 million CZK. The city is now seeking to recover these funds.

Investigations by iRozhlas.cz revealed that K.V.P. Gastro operates with anonymous shares, preventing the identification of its owner, even through the Register of Beneficial Owners. No representative from the company has responded to requests for comment on the issue.

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