Lounging in Harold Place
The identity of the restaurant chain which has contracted to take new premises being built by Hastings Borough Council (HBC), on the site of the former toilet block at Harold Place, has been revealed. It’s Loungers UK Limited, who operate 146 other bars and restaurants nationwide, including Fuego Lounge in Lewes, Alcampo Lounge in Brighton and Modelo Lounge in Hove.
Despite the Hispanic brand names, Lounge menus elsewhere indicate that the Hastings version will offer mid-range comfort foods supplemented by gluten-free and vegan options. A Trip Advisor assessment of the Lewes operation given in May 2019 concluded: “the whole rigmarole and the quality of the food made this a bit like a hipsters’ Wetherspoons”.
Restaurant at Harold Place – artist’s impression
CREDIT: Hastings Borough Council
The increase in construction costs for the building from the original estimate of £1.2m to £1.7m, having been approved unanimously by HBC’s cabinet on 4th October (see HIP 187: Council to spend another £0.5m on Harold Place Restaurant Build), was debated at a full Council meeting nine days later. Cllr Peter Chowney, holder of the financial portfolio in cabinet, told councillors that the project had “never been intended as a major money-making scheme”, but would provide “a good quality building with good environmental standards in the town centre”. He also suggested that much of the extra expense – the result of general inflation in the costs of both labour and materials – might be recouped from a grant by the Local Enterprise Partnership viewing it as a “shovel-ready project” once planning permission was secured.
Tory and Green critics
However, Conservative councillors queued up to criticise the venture as a financial risk that was not balanced by any prospect of profit. Cllr Mike Edwards branded it “a lunatic idea to borrow this volume of money in a very uncertain business environment to build a building and not plan to make a penny profit out of it.” Cllr Paul Foster described the building as “something we don’t need”, given the number of empty shops in the town, and declared that it was not consistent with HBC’s environmental responsibilities.
Green party councillor Julia Hilton took up this theme, questioning how the development could be “squared” with the aspiration in the Town Deal funding bid to turn the route from the railway station to the sea into a ‘garden town’. She argued that the incoming restaurant chain, far from promoting regeneration, would take business away from existing eateries.
Apart from Cllrs Chowney and Judy Rogers, who seconded the motion to approve the budget increase, no Labour councillors spoke in favour. However, the vote proceeded on party lines, the motion being carried by 17 votes to 10. A planning application is likely to be submitted shortly.
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