Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: BREAKING NEWS: All three offers for the Drill Hall propose refurbishment rather than demolition
The media speculation is that the favoured bid is probably coming from Rockfish:
Exeter Seafood Restaurant on the Quay | Rockfish
Rockfish in Exeter is offering half-price fish and chips before it even opens - Devon Live
And today Devon Live gives more focus:
Restaurant plan to bring redundant Sidmouth seafront site back to life
Each of the three commercial offers – no offers from community groups were received – involve a restaurant or bar as part of the application
Daniel Clark Local Democracy Reporter
26 FEB 2019
A redundant Sidmouth seafront site is set to become a restaurant whose operators ‘draw people into the town based on their name’.
East Devon District Council’s cabinet when they meet next Wednesday are being recommended to approve selecting the offer from the bidder – one of three received by the council – for the Drill Hall site.
Each of the three commercial offers – no offers from community groups were received – involve a restaurant or bar as part of the application.
The cabinet are recommended to allow officers to formally enter negotiations with the approved bidder over the disposal of the Drill Hall site and the neighbouring toilet block, but that a replacement toilet facility must be provided.
No name of who the bidder is has been revealed in the agenda documents. But the proposed hours of operation, number of jobs created, sustainability credentials, that they provide a water fountain outside its buildings, their proven track record in supporting charity and community groups, that they operate a restaurant in Exeter and other towns in Devon, plus the fact their owner announced plans last year to open new restaurants along the south coast, all correspond to the bidder being Rockfish.
The report of Richard Cohen, Deputy Chief Executive, says that ‘offer two, by the unnamed ‘established’ South West brand’, is the preferred offer.
He adds: “The Drill Hall would be extensively and sympathetically refurbished with some external alterations to create a balcony/terrace at the front of the site. The building would be operated as a restaurant and the restaurant company is an established brand in the South West of with restaurants in several Devon towns and Exeter.
“The offer is conditional on securing planning permission and licensing which is the normal basis for an offer within this sector.
“Information was provided regarding the successful operation of this bidder’s restaurants elsewhere and how they would propose to run this offer in Sidmouth, with gives a confident description of their approach. They are a recognised entity that operates effectively and popularly elsewhere and this offer would be expected to draw people into the town based on their name/reputation. They have been a catalyst elsewhere where their presence has turned around parts of town centres.
A redundant Sidmouth seafront site is set to become a restaurant whose operators ‘draw people into the town based on their name’.
East Devon District Council’s cabinet when they meet next Wednesday are being recommended to approve selecting the offer from the bidder – one of three received by the council – for the Drill Hall site.
Each of the three commercial offers – no offers from community groups were received – involve a restaurant or bar as part of the application.
The cabinet are recommended to allow officers to formally enter negotiations with the approved bidder over the disposal of the Drill Hall site and the neighbouring toilet block, but that a replacement toilet facility must be provided.
No name of who the bidder is has been revealed in the agenda documents. But the proposed hours of operation, number of jobs created, sustainability credentials, that they provide a water fountain outside its buildings, their proven track record in supporting charity and community groups, that they operate a restaurant in Exeter and other towns in Devon, plus the fact their owner announced plans last year to open new restaurants along the south coast, all correspond to the bidder being Rockfish.
The report of Richard Cohen, Deputy Chief Executive, says that ‘offer two, by the unnamed ‘established’ South West brand’, is the preferred offer.
He adds: “The Drill Hall would be extensively and sympathetically refurbished with some external alterations to create a balcony/terrace at the front of the site. The building would be operated as a restaurant and the restaurant company is an established brand in the South West of with restaurants in several Devon towns and Exeter.
“The offer is conditional on securing planning permission and licensing which is the normal basis for an offer within this sector.
“Information was provided regarding the successful operation of this bidder’s restaurants elsewhere and how they would propose to run this offer in Sidmouth, with gives a confident description of their approach. They are a recognised entity that operates effectively and popularly elsewhere and this offer would be expected to draw people into the town based on their name/reputation. They have been a catalyst elsewhere where their presence has turned around parts of town centres.
Drill Hall, within the Port Royal site, on Sidmouth seafront (Image: Daniel Clark)
“The offer reflects the expectations of the brief including high sustainability through none use of single use plastics, sourcing local produce and providing a water fountain outside its buildings.
“Following the analysis and assessment of the bids offered, the Core Group considered that the Offer 2 should be explored further and a meeting with the restaurant company’s bidding team was carried out.
“They were able to provide further information regarding certainty on their funding, details of their ethical and environmental approach and job numbers. The Sidmouth restaurant would expect to create 25 – 30 full time and part time jobs. They would operate 7 days a week from midday to 9.30pm (kitchen closing time, not restaurant closing time).
“They confirmed that they do not use single use plastics or polystyrene. They have applied for Marine Stewardship Council status which is equivalent to Fairtrade. They have a proven track record in supporting local charities and community groups in the towns in which they are located.
“It is recommended that the restaurant company should be taken forward as the preferred bidder for the site for more detailed proposals to be prepared and negotiations to be undertaken between the parties leading to a disposal of the site on the long leasehold basis.”
All three offers were considered by a group made up of town and district councillors and officers, who weighed up the price and quality of each of the bids.
One of the other offers submitted to the council would have seen a two-phase development. Phase one would have seen Drill Hall refurbished as a family business, offering a bar or restaurant, and the second phase would look at the Port Royal area over the course of 10 years. The applicants proposed a land swap 10 acres of agricultural land rather than cash.
The other offer is for a reuse of the Drill Hall, comprising a community function room with pop up restaurant in the basement, living space on the ground floor and office space at the existing first floor space, or an alternative offer in which the ground floor would be used as a restaurant or for community use, with planning permission to create a new first floor for chef or owner accommodation.
East Devon District Council’s cabinet meets next Wednesday to make a decision over the future of Drill Hall.
Previously, 18 months of consultation, communication and engagement with the local community had established that quality restaurants and bars with a clear view of the sea with an outdoor terrace or a patio were among the wishes of residents for the disused and rundown building.
Cllr Cathy Gardner, who represents the Sidmouth town ward, said: “Assuming the recommended bid is accepted and all the hurdles are overcome, the Drill Hall will be refurbished and brought back into use. I am so pleased that the building looks set to live to fight another day.
“Lots of people have campaigned for this and whilst a community bid never proved possible, it seems that we will have an excellent outcome for the town.”
Restaurant plan to bring redundant Sidmouth seafront site back to life - Devon Live
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“The offer reflects the expectations of the brief including high sustainability through none use of single use plastics, sourcing local produce and providing a water fountain outside its buildings.
“Following the analysis and assessment of the bids offered, the Core Group considered that the Offer 2 should be explored further and a meeting with the restaurant company’s bidding team was carried out.
“They were able to provide further information regarding certainty on their funding, details of their ethical and environmental approach and job numbers. The Sidmouth restaurant would expect to create 25 – 30 full time and part time jobs. They would operate 7 days a week from midday to 9.30pm (kitchen closing time, not restaurant closing time).
“They confirmed that they do not use single use plastics or polystyrene. They have applied for Marine Stewardship Council status which is equivalent to Fairtrade. They have a proven track record in supporting local charities and community groups in the towns in which they are located.
“It is recommended that the restaurant company should be taken forward as the preferred bidder for the site for more detailed proposals to be prepared and negotiations to be undertaken between the parties leading to a disposal of the site on the long leasehold basis.”
All three offers were considered by a group made up of town and district councillors and officers, who weighed up the price and quality of each of the bids.
One of the other offers submitted to the council would have seen a two-phase development. Phase one would have seen Drill Hall refurbished as a family business, offering a bar or restaurant, and the second phase would look at the Port Royal area over the course of 10 years. The applicants proposed a land swap 10 acres of agricultural land rather than cash.
The other offer is for a reuse of the Drill Hall, comprising a community function room with pop up restaurant in the basement, living space on the ground floor and office space at the existing first floor space, or an alternative offer in which the ground floor would be used as a restaurant or for community use, with planning permission to create a new first floor for chef or owner accommodation.
East Devon District Council’s cabinet meets next Wednesday to make a decision over the future of Drill Hall.
Previously, 18 months of consultation, communication and engagement with the local community had established that quality restaurants and bars with a clear view of the sea with an outdoor terrace or a patio were among the wishes of residents for the disused and rundown building.
Cllr Cathy Gardner, who represents the Sidmouth town ward, said: “Assuming the recommended bid is accepted and all the hurdles are overcome, the Drill Hall will be refurbished and brought back into use. I am so pleased that the building looks set to live to fight another day.
“Lots of people have campaigned for this and whilst a community bid never proved possible, it seems that we will have an excellent outcome for the town.”
Restaurant plan to bring redundant Sidmouth seafront site back to life - Devon Live
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