Plans for glass-fronted fish restaurant unveiled
THE first official pictures of a controversial fish restaurant planned for Babbacombe Downs have been revealed.
The artist's impressions and 3D model of how the restaurant could look were seen by Bay businessmen when restaurateur Nigel Bloxham gave a presentation to 60 members of the Torquay Chamber of Commerce.
He told them: "This is the first time we're talking about these plans to people who are interested in listening."
Mr Bloxham wants to build the restaurant in place of a Victorian toilet block on the Downs.
He told the assembled business community he was one was their own, and had been employing people in Paignton at his Seafare Products factory for 25 years.
He said his intentions were to work with the community and create a 'destination restaurant' to attract visitors to Babbacombe and boost business for all.
He said: "We want this restaurant to be affordable for all. It's not going to be a Michelin star white tablecloth place. But we want it to be an experience and education as well."
Mr Bloxham said the design for the fish restaurant was sympathetic to the environment and would give a tired and under-used Victorian toilet block a new lease of life.
He told the assembled businessmen the glass-fronted restaurant would not rise more than 2.8 metres above Downs level and would include a 'theatre kitchen' so customers can feel the bustle of a busy kitchen and see their food being prepared.
He said: "We've been working on this project for a long time. We would never have dreamed about this site if it had not been put to tender by Torbay Council.
"You can't please everyone in the world but I was surprised by the amount of people against it. But there are also a lot of people in favour.
"I think what I propose to do fits very well there and will create a better environment for the public.
"This business will operate there between 8am and 11pm all year round and will provide activity for other traders as well new jobs for people."
The proposed fish restaurant has attracted a storm of opposition with many angry residents and local ward councillors voicing their strong opposition to the scheme.
Many people fear it will destroy the view while others are annoyed with the way the consultation and tendering process was handled by Torbay Council.
In his presentation, Mr Bloxham said the restaurant would be almost entirely transparent apart from the lift pod and would include features such as a polished ceiling to reflect the sea and grass and a state-of-the-art publicly-accessible toilet.
Mr Bloxham said his idea was to seek inspiration from his successful Crab House Cafe in Weymouth and replicate its success and ethos.
He added: "This is about the community and inclusion. It's about sustainability and enhancing the area's natural beauty."
During a questions and answers session, many businessmen showed their opposition to the scheme saying it was a 'great idea in the wrong place'.
Architect Charles Blake said: "Any investment in the area is good news but not on that site. I think there will be a restaurant of this standing in the coming year in Babbacombe but hopefully at the back of the theatre."
Solicitor Robert Newman agreed saying:" It's a good presentation but it's in the wrong place."
Not all business leaders attending Wednesday's meeting at the Barcelo Imperial Hotel, were opposed to the plans.
One developer who wished to remain anonymous said: "It is a good use of the site. It will bring people in the area. It's a good idea and needs to move forward."
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by Auntie Mabel's Handbag, Torquay
Monday, March 15 2010, 1:57PM
“Ooh, it is rather splendid, isn't it? Just like a bus shelter. I do hope the 12 will call there.
Why are people complaining about what the loos look like currently? You can't see them from anywhere really, except out at sea. A nice coat of paint would deal with that quite nicely. I have a rather jolly chap who does all my odd jobs for me: he would have that done in a couple of days (he's rather partial to a garibaldi, so make sure you get some in).
Another slice of Dundee cake, Maud?”
by Biffo, Paignton Zoo
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:18PM
“Well here we are again and no doubt Adam will say I am old fart and I do not want want Torquay /Torbay to progress and that is so wrong of him to assume. I do not want the restaurant to be be built and that is mostly down to the way it has been handled, there seems to an element of deceit about the whole affair. Mr Bye has his finger in a fish pie and Mr Bloxham wants us all to believe it is all for the good of the Bay, Mr Bloxham you are a businessman and out to make money through the backdoor and on the cheap, you say you are investing £400, 000 in this fish plaice, who else is backing you. The wonderful 'hut on a beach' in a car park is well blown up by marketing, I live near it and not many visit the place and they certainly do not travel any distance to the place, it is unusual and you will find that business men from Poole, Bournemouth and Weymouth use it for entertaining clients, I am not saying it is good or bad, all I will say i have been there and will not be returning.
This whole things smack over underhand dealings and that is why 600 people attended the meeting organised last week mainly to see what was going on behind their backs. I was not at the meeting due to the fact I was in Darlington to watch Torquay United win, that was my bright spot of the week. I was looking forward to reading reports of the meeting on here but I did not see any, where there any coverage. There is so much mistrust of the Council and that is why people are rebelling against them.
No one is against change but can anyone tell of any worthwhile development in the Bay in the last 20 years or so, I can think of none, we have Fleet Walk, which is a disaster, the bloody cage bird instead of the Marine Spa, Crossways failure in Paignton, a stupid bridge in the harbour, the Torquay harbour that has been spoilt by it's pontoons and a wonderful balloon on the Seafront and the ruin of Rock Walk. Torquay town is now a mess and the shopping centre in Union Street, whatever the latest name is for that is. BUT we let places like Oldway fall into ruin, the main street of Torquay and Paignton look a mess and are dirty. Torwood Street and the Strand are no go areas and again are filthy, Mr Bye and his Council can take most of the blame for that but he cannot be blamed for the developments that took place when he was still in short trousers, the blame for that can be put at the door of previous Torquay councils and Mayors who were all in it for their mates!!
As for Babbacombe, the downs and the views are great but the premises that front onto the Downs are pretty much a muddle and are not attractive.
See on Google they sat that the most attractive street in the UK is The Shambles in York, why is that I wonder, could that be due to the character of the place being retained by York City Council. I have a daughter that lives in York, she was born and brought up in Torquay until the age of twenty and loves York but thinks Torquay is the pits....problem is I agree with her but I still love the Torquay as it used to be.
I have also a moan about the pictures attached to this article, there are three and one is duplicated and are too small to be seen, and the front artists view is rubbish unless they are going to widen the pavement.
Mr Blince, the landlord, you treat this as though it was a war of words, it is not.”
by Claire Worth, Paignton
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:16PM
“As a young person with a family living in paignton and originally from torquay, it would be great to see a modern building of somesort in a place where it wouldnt ruin any view, and the park in paignton would also be great as it wont take up all of the space on the green! I think people need to start accepting change and prepare themselves for some modern buildings and new developments and allow the younger generation to live a little and grow with the times (well i think thats what they say isnt it!)”
by Adam, Tq
Friday, March 12 2010, 7:34PM
“Many of the arguments against this are quite odd:
"Where will people park" - in one of the nearby car parks which are often empty, even in peak season?
"How will lorries make deliveries" Err...why would you assume a small restaurant would need a lorry making deliveries to it? It's hardly going to need an access road!
"It'll be impossible to stop future development" - absolute rubbish, there's not legal backing to this claim”
by Returned Torbay Expat, Torbay
Friday, March 12 2010, 7:28PM
“Where would the proposed clientele park their cars?”