Cereal Killer cafe owner cuts interview short after he is grilled about his prices

Channel 4 presenter Symeon Brown asked Gary Keery if locals in Tower Hamlets would be able to afford to eat there

Gary Keery and Symeon Brown (Channel 4/YouTube )

The co-owner of the UK's fist cereal cafe abruptly cut short a TV interview when he was quizzed about his prices.

Gary Keery refused to speak further with Channel 4 News presenter Symeon Brown when he was questioned at yesterday’s opening of Cereal Killer in the London borough of Tower Hamlets.

With 100 different types of cereal with 12 varieties of milk and 20 kinds of topping on offer, customers at the cafe are certainly spoilt for choice – but at £3.20 a bowl it’s not the cheapest way to enjoy the foodstuff.

In the interview broadcast last night Brown referred to the fact that the cafe had opened up in one of the poorest parts of London, before asking: “Do you think local people will be able to afford £3.20 cereal?”

Keery, who pointed out that the cereal was imported from America, replied: “If they're poor, probably not then. Can we stop this interview? Because I don't like the questions that you're asking me.“

Brown maintained that he had asked “fair questions” but Keery repeated that he did not like them and was “busy”.

Keery, from Belfast, set up the cafe with his identical twin brother Alan. Following the interview he told the London Evening Standard today that he did not think the questions were “relevant”, adding that he would not be giving further interviews.

He said: “I did not think they were relevant questions. I am a small business owner trying to run a business. I am too busy - I am not giving any more interviews.”

Meanwhile, on Twitter, Brown said: “A lot of tweets tonight. My report was on quirky cafes. A question on pricing in poor neighbourhood was fair. Good luck to @CerealKillerUK.”

According to London's Poverty profile, Tower Hamlets has the second highest unemployment rate in London, with every ward having a higher proportion of people claiming out of work benefits than the capital's average. It is also one of the worst boroughs for premature mortality and overcrowding.