OAK Mall bosses have dashed a Hollywood stuntman’s dream of opening up a movie-themed coffee shop.

Craig Miller, a successful martial arts expert and actor from Greenock, wanted to bring the glamour of the film world to Inverclyde by establishing premises in the shopping centre.

He and a business partner were hoping to open their new venture in the former Beanscene unit before Christmas.

The pair had been in lengthy negotiations with centre management over a lease and believed they had settled on a five-year arrangement.

Craig, 32, originally from Branchton, said: “We had contacted architects over designs, spoken to shopfitters and had everything ready to go. We were just waiting for their confirmation.

“We were in having a look at the unit and then got an email a couple of days later to say a dentist had offered £45,000 a year on a 20-year lease, when they’d said to us for a five year lease it was £15,000 for the first two and an extra £5,000 every year afterwards.

“The rug has just been whipped away from us — days before we were due to get started.” 

Craig, who recently worked alongside Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth in Kingsman: The Secret Service and spent 10 years working in the film industry in Hong Kong, hoped to bring some of the actors, stuntmen and world class gymnasts he has been working with along to the new cafe.
After the deal broke down he was offered other units in the mall but says they were not acceptable.

Craig explained: “All the other units would require change of use planning permission through the council, which could take up to a year.”

The budding entrepreneur feels he had been messed around and told the Tele he has lost time, effort and thousands of pounds on the venture.

He said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. They pulled the plug on us. I’ve wasted a huge amount of money on this.”

Oak Mall Letting Agency today defended its position on the deal dispute.

A spokesman said: “Demand is increasing after what has been a challenging period for not just the Oak Mall but shopping centres nationally.

“However, the inevitable consequence of this increase in tenant demand is that some operators will be disappointed by missing out on their first choice of unit. 

“Whilst we wouldn’t comment on the details of any rental negotiations, we fully understand Mr Miller’s disappointment on this occasion, particularly given the increasingly exciting outlook within the shopping centre, but with units still available elsewhere within the scheme, we should stress that we remain keen to work with Mr Miller to deliver his use within the Oak Mall, if at all possible.”