“Everything is coming along nicely” is the message from the charity opening a new café and bistro in one of Cromer’s landmark buildings.

Plans to transform the Seaview building in North Lodge Park into a licensed bistro were announced last month after the charity About with Friends took over its lease.

The bistro will champion locally sourced food and drink, including Norfolk wines and gins, and will employ six adults with learning disabilities.  

READ MORE: Cromer Seaview building to become About With Friends bistro

The charity had hoped to open the café section of the building sooner but experienced delays because of a change in the lease which now requires them to provide on-site toilets. 

Jamie Moses, About with Friends operations director, said they will now knock through one of the walls of the building to connect it to the existing public toilets outside, which will be refurbished.

New public toilets will replace them, which will be built by the council nearby.

Mr Moses said he hopes to open “in the coming weeks”, with the bistro set to welcome customers through its doors for the first time this summer.

“We’re all very positive,” he said.

“The building has been left empty for years and we want to bring it back to life and make it a focal point in the park again.”

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Mr Moses said they have also experienced delays with signing off drawings, licensing and the change of use for the building.

The venue will be staffed by qualified chefs and caterers, who will teach members of the charity with learning disabilities culinary skills to help them achieve qualifications of their own.

“It will help them to build confidence and convince themselves that they have the ability to work in a mainstream workplace,” Mr Moses said.

“It will improve their quality of life and enhance their opportunities to get jobs in the future."