Popular Falmouth café plans change to 'future-proof the business from climate change'

A popular beach café in Cornwall has submitted plans for a new seating area to protect it from storm damage. The owner of Castle Beach Café in Falmouth, Emily Davidson, said the proposal is a long-term solution to “future-proof the business from climate change associated storms.”

She has submitted a planning application to Cornwall Council for a new indoor seating area made of a converted shipping container roughly the same size as the current open-sided seating area. The application comes after the café suffered significant storm damage to the current seating area in April.

The existing raised timber deck will also be extended across the south face of the new container, and a new ramp access to this deck will be formed at the west end with a stepped access to the east.

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In a statement shared on Facebook, Emily added: “It’s difficult to keep the current seating area looking presentable - we often find the remnants of a party or barbeque, and the paintwork needs to be sanded and treated at least once a year. Not to mention the seaweed!”

She said the café will continue to operate as a takeaway, and will still have its outdoor picnic tables on the other side. This means the café will be able to open in poor weather conditions, with the attraction of sheltered seating.

In good weather, Emily added, the sliding doors will be left open for fresh air. These will be made of durable glass and shutters will be used at night to prevent damage from wave-strewn rocks.

She said she is still not 100% decided if this will go ahead, if the planning permission is even granted, and is looking for feedback from her customers on the proposals. “I largely want to listen to my customers,” Emily said. “I want to maintain the family-friendly, homely vibe that we currently offer.”

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