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A listed garage building will be turned into a "boutique" cafe. The Old Rectory, in Hastings, has been granted permission to transform the structure into a 30-seat cafe. The garage is part of the Grade II listed north wing of the seven bed boutique bed and breakfast in Harold Road.
The plans received the green light from Hastings Borough Council on April 4. The proposed changes will see the detached garage undergo significant internal modifications. A central masonry wall will be removed to create an open-plan layout, and a conservation rooflight will be installed to allow natural light into the space.
The garage will be turned into a new cafe (Image: Google) The cafe plans to operate from 10am to 10pm daily. To minimise noise disturbances, guests will be encouraged to move indoors after 9pm. No additional parking will be provided but there is a public car park nearby and space for taxis to drop off guests.
Three letters of objection were received by the council. Concerns raised included the potential detrimental impact on the residential character of the area, noise, odours, and existing parking issues. Read next: 'Blimey, it's bad': Albion fans criticize fictional portrayal on ITV's Grace Other objections included safety concerns, lack of bin storage, and the disruption from delivery drivers.
Residents also raised concerns about the cafe's planned seven-day opening, and the fear it could evolve into a bar. Despite these objections, the council's planning report concluded that the cafe would complement the existing bed and breakfast use of The Old Rectory. Drawings of the approved proposal (Image: Oaten Architects) The report said: "Presently, there are few cafes in the vicinity due to the distance from the Old Town shopping area, however, there are several places of interest for visitors to the town such as All Saints Church, the Cyril and Lillian Bishop Lifeboat, and The Old Rectory itself.
READ NEXT: Number of city council employees paid over £100k jumps by more than 70% "It is considered that the provision of a small cafe in this location would aid in encouraging visitors to explore the wider town." The report also noted that, while the introduction of a cafe near residential properties could cause disruption, the established use of The Old Rectory as a bed and breakfast meant the new cafe would not significantly alter the existing relationship between the properties. The absence of additional parking spaces was noted but the report said: "While the loss of the garage is unfortunate, it is not considered that refusal of the scheme could be justified on this basis as the existing hotel use operates with minimal parking.
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