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Gloucestershire Business News

Farewell to popular café

The Heritage Café outside Pittville Pump Room in Cheltenham is being removed.

The café, operated by The Cheltenham Trust and made up of an orangery and decking, opened during the pandemic and proved to be a popular meeting place.

But planning permission for it to remain open expires on November 4.

The Cheltenham Trust said: "The Heritage Café was initially launched as a temporary outdoor café during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a safe and welcoming space for social interaction. Over time, it became a cherished destination, contributing to the health and wellbeing of our community. However, as Pittville Pump Room returns to hosting a growing number of events and private hires, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas, we have made the decision to close the café to fully focus on delivering a range of seasonal events."

Wherever possible, café staff will be redeployed or offered alternative employment.

The café was constructed temporarily during the pandemic, when there was a short-term relaxation of enforcement for temporary structures, to help support businesses and organisations to operate whilst social distancing restrictions were in place.

It quickly became a popular meeting place for locals, as well as an integral part of the trust's income.

Takings from the café allowed The Cheltenham Trust to maintain and sustain Pittville Pump Room, as well as deliver its annual programme of free and inclusive events across Cheltenham.

The temporary relaxation period came to an end on September 30, 2022, and The Cheltenham Trust applied for planning permission to keep the orangery open for up to two years.

Cheltenham Borough Council gave permission for it to remain open for a further 20 months from June 2023, on the condition that the structure be removed, and the land restored to its former condition on or before November 6, 2024.

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