Future of council's new Southbourne restaurant and lodges uncertain

Work on the new venture, at the former Bistro on the Beach site in Southbourne, was due to start this autumn. 

The £6.8 million development will be a three-storey building featuring a restaurant and 17 overnight lodges. 

However, due to high inflation within the construction industry, BCP Council has said the project can only be developed when it is “commercially prudent to do so”.

Demolition of Bistro on the Beach in February 2022 (Image: Daily Echo)

Cllr Andy Martin, portfolio holder for customer, communications and culture, said: “Due to the current high inflation within the construction industry, the council has taken the decision to pause and re-assess the commercial viability of the Southbourne Beach regeneration scheme.

Read more: Plans for restaurant and lodges in Southbourne approved

“The seafront team are currently reviewing the business case and will consider both short- and long-term recommendations for the site in the autumn, in light of current market conditions.” 

He added the council has no plans to provide extra funding on top of the existing £6.8 million budget provided by BCP Council.

SOBO Beach (Image: Daily Echo)

Cllr Martin added: “The project is not funded from council reserves, and with no current plans to increase the budget, the proposed redevelopment - involving a new restaurant, public toilets and beach lodges - will only be delivered when it is commercially prudent to do so. 

“Once we have confirmed details of a new timeline and delivery, we will update residents.”

Read more: SOBO Beach launches petition to stay open until 2027

Councillors approved the application by a majority vote of 11 in favour and one against at a committee meeting last summer. 

After the demolition of Bistro on the Beach in February 2022, businessman Rich Slater opened up a pop-up restaurant on the site. 

SOBO Beach, which has been up and running since it opened, features a double decker bus and shipping containers along with the “chilled vibes of Miami’s South Beach”.

Rich said while the current tender ends in October, there has yet to be official confirmation he can keep SOBO Beach on site. 

He said: “We are really hoping to stay here, we would love to be on site for as long as possible and we are committed to this. 

“At this stage, the council hasn’t given any confirmation that we can remain here and we have asked for an extension. 

“We have said that we are willing to commit to more investment on site, too, including improving the council-run toilets which people say needs updating.”