Lights and furniture smashed up by 'drunk teens'

A business owner in Shrewsbury has said he has been persistently targeted by groups of young people using his cafe for "outdoor parties" and vandalising the area.

Joe Sankey took over the Quarry Kitchen Cafe and Bar six weeks ago and said he had seen benches destroyed, broken glass scattered around the patio area and found what he believed to be drug paraphernalia.

"It is very hard when you are coming into work to be motivated in the morning for it because you do not know what you are walking into," he said.

West Mercia Police said it understood "the impact antisocial behaviour can have on local communities" and that it was continuing "to work with partners to address any issues".

Sankey took over the business from the previous owners and said he was aware of some antisocial behaviour in the past.

He said he put up security camera to catch what was going on and found "two or three groups" using the space.

"There is a lot of drinking, a lot of use of illegal substances from what we are finding in the morning," Sankey said.

"They are bringing their own speakers and moving the tables, but when they are moving everything around out here, there is a lot of damage from them picking up and throwing furniture around.

"This morning, we have walked into a lot of broken glass outside and it is quite obvious they have had a good night because they have projectile vomited everywhere."

According to Shrewsbury Town Council and the town's business improvement district, there has been a steep decline in the number of "problematic congregations" across the town as a whole - falling from 588 in 2023 to just 21 in 2025.

West Mercia Police statistics also showed a 63% drop in reports of damage and a 51% drop in alcohol-related incidents.

The county and town councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill Alex Wagner said it was an issue that authorities had been tackling for some time.

"The top of Pride Hill was where almost all of those issues with congregation, threatening behaviour were happening in the last three years - since, we [have] tackled that and made changes like moving the benches out of the way," Wagner said.

"I know it was not liked by everyone, but it has worked. We have seen reductions of well over 90% in the reports we're getting through.

"That said, lots done doesn't mean there's still not more to do."

The Liberal Democrat councillor added there were already "consultations" going on to better protect Quarry park, which has limited CCTV.

"We are putting together a bit more of a long-term plan and CCTV is coming up as feedback," he said.

"The town council has also stepped in to take all of that over, also to protect the Shrewsbury Rangers, so I think it would be good to get a broader public debate about where are the priorities are."

Sankey said the business was also starting to get issues where "groups of people" turn up while it was still open and causing trouble.

"For some of the staff and the team, it is quite intimidating when they're closing down to have up to 30 people just sat outside refusing to leave," he added.

"It makes it a bit of a challenge at the start and at the end of the day but we are doing our best to remain positive for the rest of the community."

The business owner said he had reported it to West Mercia Police and was keeping track of all of the incidents.

A police spokesperson said the force had "been made aware of concerns about antisocial behaviour outside the Quarry Kitchen and Bar in Shrewsbury".

They added the Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) had "visited the location and spoken to the owner about the ongoing issues".

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