Save Pomegranate Restaurant

Very unfair, this restaurant is across the road from my office, and there's nothing wrong with how it looks. I have a good idea who the complaining neighbour is though, and if I'm right, she's just nasty.

Please do NOT let the narrow minded and bigoted win - keep this restaurant trading...

Italian restaurant =OK, Arabic signage = evil
Racist ars!"£$%

I can't understand why a nice, clean, colourful frontage would cause offence when there's a silhouette of a clearly naked female on a strip bar up Lothian Road as well as Bread Street. What's the bloody problem?

Freshest, cleanest corner site in the town - other businesses take note. Seems to me the complainer is the problem, not Pomegranate.

Pomegranate is a fantastic restaurant with friendly staff. a real jewel of a place to eat.

Most stupid reason I've ever heard for closing down a superb and extra friendly restaurant ever.

There is no place for racism in Scotland in 2013 and perhaps the bigots should take a good, long,hard look at themselves and their motivation. Disgraceful behaviour and it should to be condoned by the council.

Good luck guys. Disgraceful situation you find yourselves in

I haven't eaten there as yet, but do quite fancy going.
It does sound typical of Edinburgh Cooncil's lack of objectivity, Particularly regarding licensed premises.
What's the complainer's problem?
We should be told what the cooncil's grounds are?

Utterly pathetic that pomegranate has to remove their shop frontage because of a sustained campaign by a snooty neighbor. I walk past this resturant every day and it looks far more attractive than other shops in the area and adds color to a street that has the neo brutalist st james centre casting shadows over that area of
Leith walk.

I don't know this restaurant but can see no reason, other than possible racist bigotry, for the complaints. There is nothing, NOTHING intrusive about the frontage as far as I can see.

I would, however, be interested to learn of any business interests the complaining neighbours may have in having this restaurant closed down. I would also be interested to know if the complaints were lodged by residents or local businesses. Finally, I would be extremely interested to see photographs of the previous Italian restaurant,s frontage.

There are more offensive advertisments around the city

Absolutely shocking that one business is being singled out by the council because of one person with too much time on their hands (whose motives are highly questionable). The application of planning legislation in cases like this should be fair, after all, these rules exist to protect both businesses and those living in the surrounding area. There are many other businesses on that street whose signage is of a similar (or more visible/questionable) standard, and Edinburgh Council should be applying a little common sense. There is a choice here; apply the rules and end up with an empty property, or send a clear message to the time-waster who is tying up precious time and resource with this racist campaign.

This is an excellent restaurant. I find nothing offensive about the exterior displays and think complaints are racist in nature. It is shocking.

:) I think, Pomegranate proprietors, that you should perhaps thank this nasty neighbour for advertising your establishment. Until a friend posted word of this petition on Facebook,, I had no knowledge of your restaurant, NOW, because of the need for this petition and to show that we Scots are not all a bunch of racists, I am determined to visit and sample your wares.

Once sampled, if deserving, I will be extolling the virtues at every opportunity and on every board, blog, social network available.

I have already signed the petition and happy to do so.

Good luck in your business venture. Look for Gardiner bookings in the near future.

Fantastic restaurant. Edinburgh Council being pillocks. As for whoever their racist neighbour is, she should be ashamed.

The accusations brought forward against Pomegranate sound ridiculous at best. The staff are among the most courteous and polite, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every visit I have made there. This sounds more to me like a racist allegation more than anything else and should not go unchallenged. Please sign the petition!

Such a lovely restaurant, am shocked by the harassment suffered by them.

100% behind this

I support you FULLY in your objection to the order. This is a hate crime and the council are backing it. The haters must not, and will not win.

Can't see anything wrong with the signage at all?! Edinburgh needs more delicious restaurants like this - not less!

I believe that this is a classic case of discrimination. The owners at pomegranate are amongst the most respectful people i have ever met.

We need more restaurants like Pomegranate - not more fast food chicken takeaways and betting shops.

Great restaurant. Nothing wrong with the frontage.