Storm Bert destroys Falmouth beach café seating area

Part of a popular beach café in Falmouth has once again been wrecked by stormy weather. Castle Beach Cafe's seating area was left in pieces after being brutally battered by wind and rain during Storm Bert over the weekend.

The destruction came just days after the cafe's owner, Emily Davidson, submitted plans to Cornwall Council for a new indoor seating area made from a shipping container, to protect it from future storm damage. Castle Beach Café had already suffered significant damage to its current seating area as a result of Storm Pierrick in April, so Emily hopes the proposal will "future-proof" her business.

She said that while the latest storm damage is disappointing, she believes it proves how vital it is that her plans for the shipping container are approved. Emily told CornwallLive: "I was surprised because the tide wasn’t particularly high, and most often when we have storm damage it is because of strong easterly winds.

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"It’s disappointing that this has happened just three weeks before we open for Christmas - we had already put up the fairy lights. But I also think that this comes at a fitting time, where my planning application is being considered, it really highlights the necessity for a robust structure."

The rubble left behind was cleared within just a few hours yesterday morning (Sunday, November 24), but it may be a few days before it is removed from the site. Despite the damage, Emily said she is still planning on reopening the café on December 14, with a view of potentially adding tarpaulin to the seating area to shelter customers from the rain.

She said: "I hope that this won’t put people off of coming to the café for a Christmas toastie or festive hot chocolate. It’s still a lovely welcoming space and we will try to make the best of the space that used to be the seating area… onwards and upwards."

As part of the proposal for a new seating area, the existing raised timber deck at the beach café will 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. The café will continue to operate as a takeaway, and will still have its outdoor picnic tables on the other side.

The option of sheltered seating would mean the café would be able to open in poor weather conditions, while in good weather, the sliding doors would be left open for fresh air. These would be made of durable glass and shutters would be used at night to prevent damage from wave-strewn rocks.

For more information about the planning application, visit Cornwall Council's planning website, here.

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