National Bar Chain to Open Next to Tenby's Famous Beach

Hospitality company Loungers has applied for signage at the former Salty's Beach Bar location in Tenby A national bar and restaurant chain is hoping to shortly expand its Wales-wide footprint by opening a new venue right next to one of the most popular and best beaches in the country. Loungers, established in 2002, operates family-oriented 'Lounge' café bars throughout the UK. The company has several establishments across Wales including in Cardiff, Swansea, Haverfordwest, Neath, and Newport. In 2019 the company took over the centuries-old former courthouse building in the centre of Carmarthen and opened Cofio Lounge. Now, the chain wants to open another Welsh venue right next to the sand in Tenby. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter. In a submission made to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Bristol-headquartered Loungers UK Limited, via agent Richard Pedlar Architects, is requesting consent for the fitting of fresh fascia signage and a new totem sign incorporating a menu board at what was Salty's Beach Bar and Restaurant next to Tenby's South Beach. Drawings accompanying the signage submission display the Loungers branding featuring the name Lansio Lounge in the company's distinctive typeface, with Lansio meaning 'launch' when translated from Welsh. Salty's Beach Bar and Restaurant confirmed it was closing down earlier this month. The Loungers submission relates solely to signage with any Lounge restaurant proposal unlikely to require consent given the existing premises operated a comparable business, eliminating the necessity for a change of use submission. Tenby Town Council is advocating approval for the signage yet the park's buildings conservation officer Rob Scourfield is advising rejection of the proposals within the town's conservation area. "Section 160 of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act requires that when considering planning applications special attention must be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the area," he said. "As a rule of thumb we have not allowed internally illuminated signage within the conservation area despite pressure to do so. "The employment of discrete externally-lit signage would be preferable – as submitted, however, the proposal will have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area." Loungers UK Limited has been asked to comment on the proposals and its plans for the Tenby venue. The application will be examined at a subsequent date.