A disused Cowes church could be turned into a Lounges café bar akin to Newport’s Correo Lounge.
Hospitality chain Loungers UK is seeking full planning permission to turn the early 20th century Cowes Methodist Church on Birmingham Road into a café, bar and restaurant.
The company operates over 230 sites across the UK with two brands: The Lounges and The Cosy Clubs.
The Lounges’ website reads:
“Our menus reflect our personality. We take food really seriously, using the best fresh produce in really creative dishes, but we also make sure our menus are about pleasure, indulgence, and fun!
“If you’ve not experienced the singular pleasure of a Lounge, it’s hard to do our interiors justice. Think sinking into a battered old club chair under a tremendously tassel-y lampshade, overlooked by an eclectic collection of paintings adorning retro wallpaper-covered walls.
“Our resident interior aficionados really aim to bring out the soul of every site, with sympathetic design and murals that celebrate the history and spirit of each local community.”
Loungers UK’s Cowes proposal includes installing a new ventilation system and commercial kitchen, according to a September 9 cover letter written by advisory services company Turley.
The church’s “open plan set up” would be kept to house the “principal dining area”.
An additional dining area would be located on the first floor’s “balconies” and “upper hall areas”.
The cover letter added:
“All original features will be retained and enhanced wherever possible and the distinctive interior of the premises will be protected and enhanced as a result of this proposal.”
Loungers UK’s application does not need to be notified to historic environment public body Historic England by law, according to an email from Historic England posted on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning portal.
The email read:
“On the basis of the information provided, we do not consider that it is necessary for this application to be notified to Historic England under the relevant statutory provisions, details of which are attached.
“If you consider that this application does fall within one of the relevant categories, or you have other reasons for seeking our advice, please contact us to discuss your request.”
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