Thirteen expressions of interest have been made to Thanet council to take on a lease for eight concrete shelters at Ramsgate’s East Cliff.
The shelters at the sea wall below the Winterstoke Gardens are being offered as a bundle at £8,000 per year, with a two year rent-free period to allow for refurbishment.
Thanet council says the shelters could be used for small food outlets, mobile light refreshment stands, spaces for pop-up performances and art, bases for fitness and wellbeing activities or lockable storage.
The offer has received a mixed response with some calling it ‘bizarre’ and questioning how the shelters could be used with no supply of gas, electricity and water and no way of securing them.
Others have suggested using them for art ‘galleries’ paddleboard hire or sauna spaces.
Thanet council says there is existing electricity and water infrastructure on the upper promenade level, “meaning that connection to utilities is possible, subject to the necessary consent.”
The shelters were given a mural makeover by students from Broadstairs College in 2017 and have been used for Busk at Dusk events during the Ramsgate Festival of Sound.
There are no facilities along the stretch of promenade.
A Thanet council spokesperson said: “The decision to lease eight coastal shelters on Ramsgate’s East Cliff was made in response to proposals for commercial enterprises received from members of the public in recent months.
“Achieving the best outcome for council-owned assets is important to the council; the opportunity is being promoted to local people to test the market, and to encourage Expressions of Interest from a range of sectors.
“We welcome ideas for a range of uses. These could include, but are not limited to, small food outlets, mobile light refreshment stands, spaces for pop-up performances and art, bases for fitness and wellbeing activities, or lockable storage.
“There are many successful coastal concessions already in place around the Thanet coastline, including saunas, boot camps, ice cream kiosks and coastal watch stations.
“The lease provides an opportunity to refurbish the historic shelters and to bring them back into use, to introduce new activities and facilities for local residents and visitors thus securing them for future generations.
“Subsequent to posting about the opportunity on Facebook, we have received 11 Expressions of Interest. These are in addition to two received in response to a targeted email campaign. The Expressions of Interest received are commercially confidential.”
The terms of the lease will not include utilities. The successful leaseholder will need to arrange reconnection and ongoing supply if required.
Anyone interested in the lease can email [email protected]
