'My £400,000 dream for Downs'
RESTAURATEUR Nigel Bloxham has promised award-winning architecture for one of Torbay's most picturesque spots.
Mr Bloxham (pictured) is aiming to create a £400,000 top-quality eatery on Babbacombe Downs, and his proposals have received backing from Bay mayor Nick Bye.
His plans propose converting the public toilets at the Downs into a ultra-modern fish restaurant, to be designed by celebrated Brixham architect Stan Bolt.
The building will include a glass pavilion at ground level, with a 65-seater restaurant on a lower ground floor level at the cliff top.
Viewing platforms will be maintained, giving the same-sized area for the public as is currently there, and about 20 staff would be employed on the site.
State-of-the-art toilets, available all year round, would replace the Victorian facilities which are there now.
Torbay Council's cabinet members discussed the matter on Tuesday, debating whether to offer Mr Bloxham development rights for the site.
Despite ward councillors and members of the public voicing their objections, it was given the go-ahead.
After the meeting, Mr Bloxham said he felt the restaurant's design would act as a draw for the area, creating positive publicity and interest in Babbacombe.
He also believed it would act as the beginning of a wide-ranging project that would involve the community and Torbay schools.
Mr Bloxham added: "We've spent a lot of money on this project so far because we believe in it. We believe in getting it right. It's not a pie-in-the-sky thing.
"I needed a commitment from the council, which I got at the cabinet meeting, and we're now ready to go. We see it as a year-round business, not a 10-week summer one.
"We're very sensitive to people's perceptions. We don't want to obscure the view. We'll frame it.
"But we need something partially above ground. We need it to make some sort of announcement from the road.
"Everyone needs to live together and work together, and this is a huge opportunity to breathe life into the Downs.
"I remember in the 60s and 70s when it was absolutely packed up there. We can provide an attraction which will bring that interest back.
"The council won't be selling the silverware. They'll still own the site, but we'll be giving them a modern piece of architecture which will win awards and stand the test of time.
"The site will be leased to us on a peppercorn rent, the costs will be mine, and the council will have an asset rather than what is there now."
Members of the public attending the council's cabinet meeting accused Mr Bye of having already made his mind up on the subject.
Mr Bye replied: "I would understand the protests if there was nothing there already, but you have unsightly toilets there.
"The toilets are a magnet for anti-social behaviour of one sort or another, so the proposal is a way of dealing with it. It could put Babbacombe on the map.
"I'm very much in favour of the proposal. I think it makes sense. What's there now is unattractive."
Objections were voiced by ward councillors Alan Faulkner and Peter Addis, who felt that any development would ruin the location's natural beauty.
Ahead of the cabinet meeting, they submitted an application for village green status for the Downs.
Cllr Addis said: "Babbacombe Downs has some of the most spectacular views in the South West. It's a major attraction. To build there would be to block that view."
Cllr Faulkner added: "The majority of people are against this, so I hope this matter will end here and now."
Mr Bloxham, from Kingskerswell, owns SeaFare Ltd seafood-processing in Paignton and the acclaimed restaurant The Crab House in Dorset.
He said that a thorough public consultation will be undertaken about proposals for Babbacombe Downs, with a scale model going on show in the near future.
43 Comments
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by SamSam, Torbay
Monday, November 30 2009, 1:32AM
“Alan Griffey...I am not sure of your age but i can remember, as I have said, when Rock End, was devoid of houses, Thatcher Ave was fields and no houses, Bishops Walk and Stoodley Knowle had a farm and Walls Hill had sheep, all gone now...that was was Torquay was great....then all the money grabbing developers came to Torquay to develop it, there was plenty of money changing hands then, if you catch my drift, for favours. One that always makes me smile is the little estate that is built at the end of Bishops Walk, on that little field they slaughtered hundreds of cows, in the lime pits, I often wonder if the residents are aware of that.
Mr Bloxham is not really famous, as most seem to say on here, he is a good business man and the best of luck to him.. and by fueling this site he plans are working.
By the way i ave voted in the poll and I would love to know the total number of votes cast that would tell the real story, I have voted twice and each time the overall figures have moved by one percent...that would suggest about 100 votes have been cast, bit like the Afghanistan vote??”
by Alan Griffey, Torbay Friends of The Earth., Torquay
Sunday, November 29 2009, 11:31PM
“Torbay is fairly unique in that most of it's seafront (including the Downs) is buffered by greenery. You go to Newquay, for instance, and you only glimpse the sea between hotels.”
by Alan Griffey, Torbay Friends of The Earth, Torquay
Sunday, November 29 2009, 10:18PM
“"everyone should take a look at his Crab House Cafe website, It's NOT a fish and chip shop it looks like an excellent high class seafood restaurant"
So if it's so wonderful, Frances, how come it needs prime position on a beautiful view to sell it?”
by Alan Griffey, Torbay Friends of The Earth., Torquay
Sunday, November 29 2009, 10:02PM
“"I am really pleased that the Downs are the start of what could be a regeneration for what is such a rundown town in general."
Yes, so lets start with the pretty natural parts and get to the run-down parts later - eh, David?”
by Alan Griffey, Torbay Friends of The Earth., Torquay
Sunday, November 29 2009, 9:41PM
“"A couple of questions, 1. Who is going to pay world class retaurant prices in Babbacombe. Not people from the Cary as its always empty when we have visited. 2. When people get fed up looking for parking how long before they dig up the green."
= the voice of sanity, methinks - well said, John!”
by Alan Griffey. Torbay Friends of The Earth, Torquay
Sunday, November 29 2009, 7:46PM
“I really do wonder about our Tory Mayor and Council that they seem so willing to sell off and despoil the best parts of what was once a beautiful Town. How many of them were born here? How many of them love the natural beauty of the town? They call themselves Conservatives - just what are they conserving that is of value to the area? And I'd say the same if it was a Lib. Dem or Labour council doing it. Some things are not for sale!
In 1980 I wrote in a nationally sold magazine:
If you ever visit Torquay, catch a bus from the harbourside to a place called Babbacombe, about two miles around the coast. If you stand on the cliff-top here you'll look across the bay at one of the most beautiful sights in the world: the green fields atop red cliffs slicing steep into the blue sea of the English Channel.
Let's preserve it from crass consumerism!”
by Arthur, St Marychurch
Sunday, November 29 2009, 3:11PM
“It is useful to have Cllr Aiton's comments here, the second time that I have heard her raise the matter in public - the first being when she supported the proposal to hand over the land in Cabinet. Not once at any Ward 'Partnership' meeting has she mentioned it nor at any of the few other community events she found her way to. Those would have been ideal opportunities to hear the real public view on this but I fear like her Cabinet colleagues she did not want to hear the response which may have echoed those of the community partnerships at Brixham and Preston when faced with similar proposals.
I applaud Nigel Bloxham and his family and hope they will bring a wonderful fish restaurant here - great website by the way Tracy but are your opening times right? 24hrs each week and closed for 2 months in winter?”
by SamSam, TORBAY
Sunday, November 29 2009, 1:15PM
“Well that put me in my place Lorraine. I was broght up in the Bay and my Dad was a keen fisherman...so we had fish everyday and rabbit that he shot at Rock End, you know the place, when I was a kid there were no houses there just fields and the old abandoned hospital. There were even fields with cows and pheasants and deer at the old Kilmorie House, and no houses, can you remember that. I grow all my own veg and never eat red meat or shell fish, I hate the thought of a lamb being killed to feed me or a young calf for veal and shell fish just live off of sewerage.
Lorraine you say kids do not know what fresh veg is like and they would not recognise it, sorry but that is our fault not the kids, we have failed. to educate them, that is both you and me.
Mrs Bloxham I admire your husband and his success but I think, like Terry, that this has not been thought through.
I have read your website and I see in the news section that to you it is a forgone conclusion that the cafe will be built, that is a wild assumption. Also a little tip it would be great if you used correct English and I find it poor that it is littered with spelling mistakes, just an observation, it does not give a good image. Lorraine would not approve.
I want something on the Downs that is memorable and will do anything to get rid of the toilets.
My Great Grandad and Grandad built most most of the houses in Petitior and Babbacombe front when they were big private houses.
There are loads of things I agree with that Lorraine writes but I think that I am of the same opinion as her that Torquay has gone by it's sell by date, it is now the pits and should not be. That is why I only live down here part time now.”
by tracy, torquay
Saturday, November 28 2009, 6:52PM
“Lorraine Torquay.
The first family venture into restaurants was in 1992 when we turned a rundown fish and chip shop into a fish bistro called no7¿s. I varnished the singer sewing machine tables myself and I believe they are still in use today! I would be very interested in hearing your more informed comments after looking at the crab house web site. www.crabhousecafe.co.uk
Ps please look out for the public meeting.”
by mrs t bloxham, torquay
Saturday, November 28 2009, 6:23PM
“Lorraine,Sam sam.
The first family venture into restaurants was in 1991 when we turned a run down fish and chip cafe into a fish bistro,it is now called no'7 fish bistro .
i remember painting and varnishing singer sewing machine tables myself and i believe they are still in use today!
I would be very interested in your more informed comments after looking at the crabhouse cafe website www.crabhousecafe.co.uk
PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING TBA
mrs T Bloxham”