Restaurant chain moves into gardener’s cottage

A FORMER gardener’s cottage on Torquay Seafront is set to become the latest cafe venue for The Venus Company.

The Totnes-based cafe chain has taken the lease for the Old Toll House next to Rock Walk and the new Abbey Crescent development at Abbey Sands.

Venus already operates six cafes and takeaways throughout Devon and Cornwall and said recent investment in the bay had made it an attractive business proposition.

Michael Smith , managing dir- ector, said: “Although we have traded in South Devon for many decades, it was only recently that we felt Torquay was ready for a Venus.

“The primary factor was the significant amount of business investment in the bay over the last five years and a general good feeling about the area which was lacking before.”

The venture will bring new life into the old building, currently unused, in a prime site next to a cluster of bars and restaurants including Bistro Pierre, Visto Lounge, Coco Lounge, On the Rocks, Las Iguanas and Pier Point.

The stone building was originally used by local boatmen and the council’s gardener, and is believed to date back to around 1840.

The TDA put out a tender last year to rent the building as a restaurant or café with further extensions to create up to 3,100 sq ft of commercial space.

Its vision for the building includes a mixed scheme of modern and traditional architecture with seating on two levels and an open-air terrace enjoying sea views from first floor area.

Mr Smith said Torbay’s upturn has been due to the South Devon Highway, opened almost three years ago. He said: “It has definitely impacted on general investment and, therefore, on our decision as a consequence.”

The Venus Company started at Blackpool Sands in 1995 and now has cafes in Bigbury, East Portlemouth, Tolcarne and Watergate Bay.