'I haven’t turned my house into restaurant,' says Norwich man with illuminated sign above front door

A homeowner has denied turning his house into a sushi restaurant – despite hanging an illuminated sign above the door of the property.

Orlando Williams rubbished claims from neighbours he had been running an eatery at from the seven-bedroom residential address in Norwich since October last year.

An illuminated sign hung outside the property reading “Orlando’s”, featuring a telephone number and web address, bears an uncanny resemblance to a restaurant front.

And the unusual décor has been enough to pique the interest of Norwich City Council, which has launched an investigation into whether Mr Williams is breaking planning regulations.

An initial inspection uncovered a bar in the property and seating for 24 people.

However, the owner denies any wrongdoing, insisting he is not running a business from the property.

“All I do, I have my name on my house,” Mr Williams told the Eastern Daily Press. “There is no restaurant there.”

However, neighbours beg to differ. One, Becky Greengrass, told the newspaper Mr Williams even invited her husband to a “launch party” for the establishment last year.

“When my husband told me I was just dumbfounded,” she said. “I could not believe it. We are all up in arms because he didn’t get planning permission for it. We thought surely we should have been notified.

“Then there is the god awful sign that has been put up. The amount of friends who drive past and ask me: ‘What the hell has opened up next door to you?’”

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The word “Sakura”, the name of a now-closed Japanese restaurant Mr Williams had previously run in the city, is also emblazoned above his door.

A Facebook page for the restaurant now lists its location as the Earlham Road address where Mr Williams’ house is located.

Norwich City Council is currently investigating if any planning laws have been broken.

A spokesperson for the local authority told The Independent an application had never been lodged to turn the property into a restaurant.

“We are aware of allegations that the property is being used as a restaurant and when officers visited they found tables and chairs set up inside, as well as evidence that the property has been marketed as a restaurant,” they added.

“But unless it is actually being used as a restaurant, and we have evidence that customers have used it and dined in it, it doesn’t require a change of use.”

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The council had been advised to accept an application to convert the property into a bed and breakfast guesthouse at a planning meeting on Thursday.

“It was reported to the council that a restaurant was being run from the premises and that advertisements have been erected at the property,” planning documents stated.

“The council is currently investigating the suspected breach above. However, members should be aware that the enforcement matters as outlined above are separate from the application under consideration.”