Mixed feelings as beach cafe granted temporary lease

A beach-front cafe has been given a further 11 months to operate, but supporters have been left with "mixed feelings" by the decision.

SOBO Beach has been told it can remain on the site in Southbourne, Dorset, until Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's "preferred bidder" is ready to take over the 20 year lease.

Campaigners have gathered more than 10,000 signatures in support of the cafe being allowed to stay at the site permanently.

Dan Astin-Gregory, a local resident who set up the petition, said: "We welcome another summer season for SOBO Beach, which we love. But the decision has mixed feelings because it still shows that the council's proceeding with its preferred bidder."

The lease on the section of land on Southbourne promenade, that is currently occupied by SOBO Beach, was due to expire on 31 October.

BCP Council have previously awarded the contract to different operator to take over the location from 1 December, but at a meeting of full council on Tuesday councillors agreed that SOBO Beach could remain until September 2027.

Supporters hope that will give them time to appeal the council's decision not adopt the cafe as its preferred bidder for the 20-year lease.

Astin-Gregory said: "Last night's amendment grants the opportunity for us to push for independent assurance and review on the process.

"I think the management are still very bullish on wanting to proceed with challenging the decision, like we are as an independent campaign group.

"I think there is further opportunity along the coast. We obviously don't want to turn it into a hotel-strewn, cafe-led [area] we need to preserve the natural beauty."

He added that "transparency" was needed in the decision-making process "not just for SOBO but for any other future tender on the coastline".

BCP Council put the site out to tender and gained five expressions of interests from operators wanting to take over the site.

Three of those five were shortlisted and one, that was not SOBO Beach, was put forward by the council to take over the site for the next 20 years.

Previously, councillor Richard Herrett, cabinet member for destination, leisure and commercial operations, said the process had been "very competitive" and the council had to comply with financial and procurement regulations.

"In line with the Procurement Act 2023, all opportunities need to be marketed on a fair, transparent and competitive basis. This is the law," he said.

He said proposals were assessed against criteria including value for money for taxpayers, business plans, infrastructure and social and community benefits.