New images have been released of a proposed new restaurant at Lane End in Bembridge on the site of what has been dubbed a ‘half-built eyesore’.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Seaview’s Old Fort owners are planning to open a new restaurant called The View, at what used to be The Lifeboat View Café, which was demolished 5 years ago.
Will Simonds and Justin Evelegh want to expand to Bembridge, on the now derelict site, and have submitted planning documents to the Isle of Wight Council. It is hoped that the restaurant will become a ‘destination eatery’ according to planning agent ZAP Architecture, adding that the ex-café site is in an ‘unattractive state of disrepair’.
Instead, a terrace of day beds is proposed and planning permission is being sought for a café, seaside shop and kiosks offering pizza, drinks and ice cream, along with staff accommodation, made up of 3 1-bed flats and a communal living area.
There would be seating indoors and out, over 2 floors and the proposed opening hours are 08:00 to 23:00 on weekdays and 08:00 until 00:00 at the weekend.
ZAP Architecture says the plan is to revitalise the area for both locals and tourists and for what it calls ‘a sophisticated dining experience’ in a design that seemingly harmonises with its natural surroundings. If approved, the aim is for The View to open in the Summer.
There were nearly 1,000 objections against the 2019 plan, lodged by the site’s former owners, for a boathouse and house extension, with a site for a food van and beach kiosk.
The scheme was approved but, although building work started, it was later abandoned and the site was taken on by Will Simonds and Justin Evelegh earlier this year.
You can view the plans, 23/01388/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 20th October.
Unlike the old Cafe, this will be very expensive,
bit like the Hut in Colwell.
Bring back the Old Tollgate Cafe in Bembridge,
Trevor was the best.
I’m 100% with you on bringing back the Tollgate. The Hut replaced Cruesoes at Colwell which was an excellent inexpensive all year breakfast/lunch venue. We are overloaded with over hyped, overpriced “destination” restaurants and do not need another.
They have the colour of the sea completely wrong in that picture.
This is a picture of the Barbados Bembridge not the Isle of Wight Bembridge.
They make it look like you can walk out onto the beach, but there is a 6-8ft drop there. The tide has never come that high so they have also dramatically raised the sea level. What’s going on with the weird zigzag roofline? It looks like some horrendous 1970s/80s throwback. I am very happy to see a nice cafe/restaurant in that spot but that looks cheap and tacky. Honestly gobsmacked. It wouldn’t cost any more to build something that looks nice.
Can see no issues with the queue for the kiosk inevitably going up or down the active slipway road…