Hove seafront cafe could be demolished and replaced with bigger one

The Meeting Place Café, in King’s Esplanade, Hove, currently has outdoor seating and plastic windbreaks, with no indoor space other than the kitchen and serving area.

The proposed 18ft tall single-storey replacement would have seating for 124 people – 88 inside and 36 on the roof terrace.

But – as happened with Rockwater further to the west – objectors have flagged up concerns about the lack of access to the roof for people with disabilities.

An artist's impression of the proposed building

Hikmet Tabak, 61, director of The Meeting Place Ltd, who has submitted the plans to Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “The proposal would replace the existing, somewhat dated and tired-looking café.

“Although having a greater floor area, the development will remove the outdoor seating area on the west of the café.

“This area is surrounded by plastic windbreaks, which together with tables, chairs and parasols, amount to an incongruous and unattractive addition to the streetscape.”

Beach Access Team Brighton and Hove (BAT), a group campaigning for improved beach access for disabled people, was among a number of objectors to criticise the lack of a lift.

The group said: “BAT objects to the development on the grounds of lack of access to the upper-level roof terrace for those with limited mobility.

“The developer has not included a Changing Places toilet which would benefit many disabled people who need such facilities.

“The nearest public seafront Changing Places is either at the new Shelter Hall, or further east at the Volk's Colonnade or, to the west … ten plus miles away in Worthing.”

Other comments in favour of the scheme also raised concerns about the inaccessible roof terrace.

One person said: “I support the idea of redevelopment. I am generally in favour of the design. I do feel that it should be possible to include a small lift in the space to make it more accessible.

“As long as it is possible to access for most people, then I’m all for it.”

Another commenter said: “This new building looks really ugly and is completely out of keeping with the seafront.

“It’s far too big and will overshadow the Peace Statue. It should be in keeping with this beautiful piece of Brighton history.

“I’m also really concerned about the lack of facilities for disabled people. I cannot comprehend how anyone could consider such a development without even thinking of putting in a lift or in other ways consider the needs of disabled people.”

Mr Tabak said the new building would preserve the “important character of the conservation area”.

His agent, Luke Carter, from Lewis and Co Planning, said the design complied with building control regulations.

Mr Carter said: “If planners feel it’s reasonable to insist on a passenger lift, then the planning committee can add a condition.

“It’s too small. There’s no inside seating. They’ve seen what happened to a scruffy café at Rockwater and want the same.

“We’ll build a modern café that’s more in keeping with Brighton seafront today, not something from the early Nineties.”