Cafe bar for Curzon

A LARGE section of Clevedon’s historic cinema is set to be converted into a stylish new café bar complete with roof terrace.

Trustees at the Curzon cinema in Old Church Road have been in discussions with the Loungers group, which owns a number of establishments in Bristol and North Somerset including Impero Lounge in Portishead’s High Street, to develop part of the facility which dates back to 1912.

They propose converting the Great Western Road-side of the building, which is yet to be restored, into a two-storey café bar.

A planning application will be submitted to North Somerset Council soon and, if approved, the work should be complete in a matter of months.

Chairman of the Curzon trustees, Hilary Neal said: “This proposal will take an un-restored part of our building and create a fantastic addition to the cinema site.

“It will provide a first class food and drink offer for the community, restore a significant part of the building and provide a rental income stream that will further underpin the viability of the Curzon charity.

“We have long recognised that the cinema needed to offer more than a great cinema experience and in line with customer expectations we shall be able to offer a contemporary cafe bar experience. Loungers are the perfect partner to deliver this.

“This proposal is a big step forward to maintaining the cinema for the long run.”

Loungers managing director, Alex Reilly said: “Bringing a ‘Lounge’ to Clevedon has been a long-held ambition of ours particularly given the success we’ve enjoyed in Portishead and the fact that I am myself a Clevedon resident.

“The proposed redevelopment of the rear of the Curzon building is a result of months of working closely with chief executive Gary Topp and the Curzon’s trustees.

“We are confident we can provide a space that will complement and enhance the cinema, both from a building and a business prospective, and we are thrilled to be involved in such an exciting project.”