A popular Cleethorpes bar and eatery Copper is being transformed, with an expansion and refit inside complemented by a new façade taking the building back to its Victorian heritage.
With work well underway inside, which includes five high-standard flats on the three floors above Copper, the business will extend from number 22 Alexandra Road into 21 with businessman Richard Bride purchasing the vacant property next door.
Meanwhile, the exterior frontage is receiving a complete overhaul, with the support of a grant from the Townscape Heritage Project for Cleethorpes. This £2.9m programme of building restoration is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and North East Lincolnshire Council. It offers grants towards the total cost of external property restoration in Alexandra Road and Sea View Street.
For Richard, the grant was very welcome as was the advice with regards to returning the exterior back to its Victorian roots.
“It was the icing on the cake. The hope is that other businesses will see what can be achieved. If all the buildings along the row could be returned to their original designs, what a massive difference it would make to the whole of the area,” said Richard.
With pictures from the Victorian era showing the Alexandra Road buildings, the resort’s Townscape Heritage Project manager Carol Heidschuster and Architect’s Ross Davy worked with Richard, planning to reinstate a traditional heritage front with cast iron gutters and gable features that were lost decades ago.
A new pitched roof with a slate finish will have a dormer window. There will be projecting bay windows at first floor with the re-introduction of the gabled roof on the second-floor windows and timber box sliding sash windows installed on the upper floors. The ground floor and business entrance will be painted with colours from the Victorian palette, with copper fittings to reflect the bar and eatery’s name, and traditional lanterns. Meanwhile, tiles will be used on the stall risers underneath the wooden windows and the central door will have an angled recess.
In tandem, Richard and business partner Brett Smith are doubling the size of Copper and plan to be ready by end of May – dependent upon current COVID restrictions. Copper will re-open once again as a successful attraction for the over 30s with Meze dining and cocktails. Upstairs the five flats, which will be available for long-term local lets, include a rooftop ‘penthouse’-style apartment with views over the sea.
“We very much intend to continue with the same themes and styles, which proved popular for Copper – but of course, with more much-needed space. We are planning some new features too, which will come as a surprise but we’re not giving any more away,” added Richard, who also runs the Society Café Bar on the High Street.
Copper’s transformation with the help of a Townscape Heritage Grant follows that of the RAFA club nearby where work started in December.
Supporting the projects, North East Lincolnshire Cabinet member for Economic Growth, Housing and Tourism Cllr Callum Procter, said: “When the work to both Copper and the RAFA club is complete they will be fine examples of how we want to support those businesses that take a real pride in restoring our resort’s heritage for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. I would encourage more premises’ owners to come forward.”
Property owners along Sea View Street and Alexandra Road can find out more about the grant scheme by going to the website www.investnel.co.uk/developments/cleethorpes-regeneration-programme/townscape-heritage-project/ or email Carol Heidschuster, the Townscape Heritage Project Manager: carol.heid@nelincs.gov.uk
Article and image from NELC.
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