Renovation plans for Southern Pavilion on Worthing pier ‘are progressing’

Plans to extensively renovate the Southern Pavilion on Worthing pier have been progressing despite the pandemic, the new owner has said.

The cafe closed in October last year, shortly after it was taken over by Alex Hole, owner of the Perch cafe on Lancing seafront.

At the time, he said a full renovation and rebrand was planned for the iconic Art Deco building.

Giving an update, he said plans for the works have been progressing over the last few months and the team will be soon be submitting a planning application.

This will seek permission to refurbish the interior of the listed building, with changes including a tripling of the amount of kitchen space.

Mr Hole said: “Hospitality has been seriously affected by the pandemic.

“We’ve been working throughout the pandemic on the plans, but it’s slowed considerably.

“We’ve managed to keep a budget throughout the pandemic to complete the renovation works.

“We are still keen on the project going ahead.”

As to when the cafe will reopen, he said it was too early to say and depended on how long the planning process took.

“We want the work we do there to last,” he said.

“I am pretty confident that we will get there. But it’s not a quick project.”

The Southern Pavilion was opened as a bistro and function space in April 2014 after renovation, having previously been a nightclub since 2007.

Mr Hole has previously said that he wanted the cafe to have ‘a similar feel’ to the Perch in Lancing, adding: “People should be able to recognise the Perch brand and style.”