My daughter is a huge Hollywood star – but I’ve had my cafe repossessed and am struggling to survive
THE dad of an A-list Hollywood star says he’s struggling so much with money he’s had his cafe repossessed.
The business owner blames annoying traffic schemes for killing his trade – but he’s refusing to take a penny from his celebrity daughter.
Clinton Pugh, 64, whose daughter is Hollywood actress Florence Pugh, said he won’t use her to get out of his situation.
The Don’t Worry Darling actress, 27, who has starred alongside the likes of Harry Styles and Emma Watson, has helped her dad out with some cash before.
But his three Oxford businesses – Cafe CoCo, Kaz Bar and Cafe Tarifa, have now all gone up for sale after struggling to stay afloat.
Clinton blames the “ill thought out traffic experiment” put in place by the council for killing his businesses.
The LTN scheme blocks residential streets with bollards and planters in a bid to reduce traffic- but has caused hundreds of thousands in losses for local businesses.
Clinton has four children, including Florence and Game of Thrones actor Toby Sebastian, 31.
He told the Daily Mail: “I am not going to get my pension out of it. I am going to have to work probably for the rest of my life. I can’t guarantee my family can support me – why should I have someone else pay for me, get me out?
“Thirty-one years sitting in this restaurant, I remember my children coming up, sitting at the bar, coming in on a Friday afternoon with other families, with Florence, it’s very upsetting.”
He said he’d probably end up working his whole life to balance the books.
One message on the wall of the restaurant reads: “Cafe CoCo, 19 years later and I’m still eating Chorizo pizzas at the bar.
“Thank you for the hangover cures and the never-ending love and affection. All my kisses Florence Pugh, proud daughter of the owner.”
Clinton said he has received offers on some of the sites, but he is currently in dispute with Oxford city and county councils.