By IW Observer.co.uk
A former Ventnor restaurant is set to be turned into flats overlooking the beach.
The current owners of the Waterside Restaurant on the Esplanade are proposing to change the ground floor into flats. Formerly the Richmond Hotel, the building was converted into flats and a restaurant nearly 20 years ago and could now become completely residential.
Plans submitted by Stag Rock (Ventnor) Ltd, a company based in St Anne’s in Lancashire, would see the Waterside turned into two two-bedroom flats.
Documents, submitted on behalf of the developers by Andrew White Planning Consultancy, say the conversion would remove the plastic signage on the front and, at a later date, another application would be submitted to restore the ground floor frontage so it complements the Victorian nature of the upper floors.
Most recently the building was known for the popular local hot spots, Ale and Oyster and Hello Sailor, but tenants have been unable to sustain a viable restaurant there, said to be due to the challenges of operating at the premises due to various deficiencies.
According to the planning agents, there is a lack of commercial bin storage, the toilets are in an awkward position and there is no commercial gas supply in the kitchen.
You can view the plans, 22/00558/3PA, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register and comment until May 4.
Isle of Wight Observer