A restaurant owner says she feels a council decision to stop her husband giving customers a free lift home after their meal is “a bit harsh”.
Chef Ruth Hansom-Rigby, who runs the Michelin Guide-listed Hansom Restaurant in Bedale, has been told it is unlawful for partner Mark to take customers home without a licence for transporting the public.
The couple began offering lifts after guests kept getting stranded at the restaurant due to the lack of public transport or available taxis.
The chef said: “When we first opened, we had a lot of people coming from out of town who didn’t really appreciate the situation with the taxis we have.
“They were coming in a taxi or maybe an Uber from Darlington or York, and thinking they’d just be able to get another one to get home, but that’s not always possible.
“Or they might have been staying at a local AirBnB or hotel when the taxis won’t come out for a short journey, which isn’t understandable as it’s not viable for them.
“We kept having to give people a lift home anyway, so we thought we could offer this as something we do make sure everyone gets home safely, as Mark’s free anyway in the evenings.”
But officers from North Yorkshire Council found out about the lifts and got in touch, saying they would need a private hire licence if they wanted to to continue.
Mrs Hansom-Rigby said the couple were considering whether to get the required licence or if there was a way around it.
She added: “It is a little bit annoying and I do feel the council has been a little harsh.
“My husband gives up his time freely and we’re not trying to steal anybody else’s business — we’re literally doing it for people who can’t get a taxi.
“There was no discussion or any attempt to come to an agreement. Thankfully, our customers have been really lovely about it.”
In response, North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for environment, Karl Battersby, said the authority was always willing to work with businesses.
But he added: “While offering customers lifts may seem like a helpful gesture, transporting members of the public without the proper licences in place creates serious risks for both the business and the customer.
“Following a complaint last year, we advised the restaurant owner on the legal requirements relating to private hire vehicles. These rules ensure that appropriate insurance, safeguarding measures, vehicle safety standards and driver suitability checks are in place to protect customers.
“The restaurant owner co‑operated fully with the advice provided and the matter was resolved in autumn 2025.”
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