Café temporarily relocates for £4.9m vision in Lowestoft

A café has now been temporarily relocated and temporary toilets have been installed as work continues as part of a new £4.9m development on the seafront in Lowestoft.

A two-storey restaurant and café complex will be built at Jubilee Parade on the seafront, with five concession units on the ground floor, new toilets, outdoor showers and a Changing Places facility.

A lift and staircase between the Esplanade, restaurant and Lower Promenade levels will provide improved access to the seafront for all.

The redevelopment of Jubilee Parade on Lowestoft's seafront comes after East Suffolk Council was awarded £4.3m through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund in March last year.

A further £600,000 investment from East Suffolk Council’s capital programme made the total cost of the project £4.9m.

The project is the third phase of the Jubilee Parade vision to be delivered, with the development to complement the Eastern Edge beach huts next to it 

The first stage of the Jubilee Parade project is under way and as part of this, Sunrise at Zak’s has now relocated to a temporary building nearby, while temporary toilets have also been installed.

A council spokesman said: "The existing structures on the site will then be demolished and the promenade will be extended onto the beach.

"This stage is expected to be completed by the summer."

Lowestoft-based PJ Spillings Ltd will carry out the demolition, which is expected to begin on Monday, April 8.

The second stage, centring around the construction of the main building, will begin from mid-June and is expected to be completed by Spring 2025.

The council has worked with businesses and organisations throughout the design phase - with a new building to be created for the Lowestoft Volunteer Lifeguard Corps.

'Exciting new development'

Paul Wood, head of economic development and regeneration at East Suffolk Council, said: "Work is now under way on this exciting new development, which, thanks to Levelling Up funding will enable us to extensively improve the offer to residents and visitors at this part of the seafront.

"We are pleased to have been working closely with Sunrise at Zak’s to ensure they can move into a new temporary unit whilst work gets under way on the new development.

"This will ensure the café can remain open throughout the build and they are able to continue serving their loyal customers."

Martin and Emma Williams, from Sunrise at Zak’s, said: "We are delighted to be able to continue to operate from within our new temporary café, which can be found a short distance further along the promenade on the south side of the Eastern Edge beach huts.

"We look forward to welcoming customers old and new over the Easter weekend and we are also excited for next summer, when we will be moving into our new permanent café within the new Jubilee Parade complex."