Elected officials at the local authority have approved tenancy agreements for the Colonnade in Bexhill after substantial renovation work was completed.
Rother District Council’s cabinet meeting on June 15 gave the green light to offers from selected candidates who will run businesses at the Grade II protected coastal building.
The approval comes after comprehensive restoration and repair work that began in October of the previous year.
Councillor Christine Bayliss, the cabinet member responsible for regeneration, stated that once the work was finished, and she expressed satisfaction with the contractors’ performance, a seven-week promotional campaign was conducted which attracted considerable interest. She noted that various proposals had been submitted, showing faith in the property, its seaside setting and its prospects going forward.
A document presented to cabinet revealed the council received 22 enquiries for the 11 commercial spaces. Applicants were permitted to put forward bids for several units simultaneously, potentially combining them if successful.
The principal dining establishment drew four separate applications.
The prior occupant of this unit, Wingrove House Limited, had terminated its lease in March. That agreement had contained a provision preventing any competing food or drink business from trading within the Colonnade.
Officers determined that one candidate for this space had achieved higher evaluation scores than the other contenders.
Information regarding this preferred candidate and other recommended applicants has not yet been released publicly. The council has stated this data is currently protected under commercial confidentiality restrictions.
However, the document indicated the preferred restaurant operator intends to make substantial financial commitment to the property and includes plans for glazing work as part of this investment.
The preferred candidate would need to obtain listed building authorisation for any work before taking occupation, and there is a possibility one of the prospective kiosk operators could temporarily use the restaurant space as a seasonal outlet.
In the document, a council spokesperson commented that should the recommendations be endorsed, the new agreements would generate a long-term rental increase of approximately £34,000 annually compared to income prior to the refurbishment. The spokesperson also noted that relaxing restrictions on food and beverage operators would likely result in a better mix of offerings, more aligned with current visitor preferences and expectations.
The future of commercial agreements at the Colonnade attracted substantial public attention during the previous summer.
A petition from that period had urged the council to guarantee the previous tenants would have the option to resume their agreements once renovation work was finished. More than 4,500 people added their signatures to this petition.
The council had undertaken to consider existing business relationships when marketing the leases, though the document presented to cabinet indicates only one previous tenant is resuming operations at the Colonnade.
In the document, a council spokesperson noted that all former tenants at the Colonnade were informed about the marketing opportunity. Only one previous tenant submitted a proposal, and they have been offered a lease for a kiosk, as detailed in the confidential appendices.