An Isle of Wight laundrette empire could expand — taking over a former café space in Cowes. What used to be the Watch House Barn café in Cowes could soon become a hub for washing and drying in new plans lodged by Dev Thakrar. Mr Thakrar owns a chain of laundrettes across the Island including in Ventnor, Freshwater, Newport and Ryde, and is now hoping to add a branch on the corner of Cowes High Street, Bath Road and Watchhouse Lane. In 2020, the café suffered a fire and closed in the following year. The building sold at auction, with Clive Emson, in December 2023 for £198,000. The auctioneers said the building — which has residential accommodation above the former café on the ground floor — needs upgrading and refurbishing as there is some fire damage present. Under the plans, the laundrette would be installed on the ground floor and have 6 washing machines and 4 dryers. Opening hours are proposed to be from 06:00 to 23:00. Planning agent, Norman White, said in documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council there would be no change in the physical appearance and limited alternations internally. Mr White said with residential units already in the area and permission granted for more recently, the laundrette is proposed to meet anticipated demand. You can view the plans, 24/00094/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be made until 23rd February.
EXPANSION PLANS IN THE OFFING FOR LAUNDRETTE EMPIRE ON THE ISLAND
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‘a hub for washing and drying’
A hub?
Rub a dub dub, wash your clothes in a hub, is their slogan I believe.
Yes that should add nicely to the charm of Cowes.
it will do well – plenty of people in Cowes each day for marine training that stay in local hotels/b and b and the ones in Ryde/Newport are always busy, due to proximity of many flats, where people just don’t have space for tumble driers/gardens for a line and even no washing machine in some cases
Obviously it will do well.Not really the point ?.It will detract from the charm of a place where many have great memories and return with regularity (and cash) to re-experience something precious to them so how does, whats essentially an industrial operation, contribute anything other than expanding the ’empire’ emperors bank account while intruding and despoiling an attractive locale in the process.? I smell freemasonry at work.
Yes, leave it as a fire damaged empty property. Even more attractive charm. No one else out bid him, including you.
Wrong place for a launderette, everyone within immediate distance doesn’t need it or won’t want to be seen using it.
Won’t be popular with local business either as like it or not local shops like to keep up a premium feel to Cowes, which this doesn’t help towards.
Good luck though
Atrocious idea.These places need to be tucked away somewhere not occupying prime real estate.Taking it personally here,such good memories of times gone by in the nice eatery it once was,now to manifest as a cash funnel to a rampant island monopolisers bank balance in a town where presumably washing machine affordability won’t exactly be an issue ? This is an insult to the place.
Good idea,theres a lot of red trousers need washing over there,the yachty fraternity will love it!
A lot of universal credit ‘so called’ in poverty muvvers NOT Mothers ( huge difference) who don’t want to ruin their expensive painted nails by washing clothes so despite declaring themselves ‘in poverty’ oddly can afford anything that gives them an easy life
The owners also own Greenhams newsagents at the bottom of Union Street in Ryde, he is also a pilot for Wightlink, so not short of money. The one at the top of Pyle Street in Newport doesn’t open till gone 7am each morning, that place could do with opening up at 6am with the amount of people who use it, I always hear people complaining it opens up to late for some to do washing and drying before work
A hub for money “laundering!”
Bit out of place i can understand it if it had been Shanklin or Sandown.
Nothing to stop these whingers from buying it them selves!! But if course, they didn’t
We’ve already got one on Mill Hill…