Flipped The Bird: Council Refuses Cowes Town Centre Bar Seating Area Plans

Plans to give an Isle of Wight town centre bar a raised outside seating area have been refused.

County Hall rejected Steve Tewkesbury’s proposal for raised seating to the rear of The Bird Bar at 104 High Street, Cowes.

A statement submitted by Mr Tewkesbury’s agent, Nova Architectural, described ‘outdoor dining and drinking’ as ‘highly sought-after experiences’ in Cowes.

It said:

“The raised seating area will only be in use during spring, summer, and autumn and will remain closed in winter.

“While some noise will be generated by the proposal, we believe it will be minimal compared to existing sources, including the Fountain Inn, the Vectis Tavern, and the nearby Red Jet terminal.

“Additionally, the seating area will accommodate a maximum of 16 patrons at any given time.

“Cowes hosts approximately 60,000 visitors annually for Cowes Week, during which numerous harbour-side venues serve alcohol without issue.

“The proposed seating area aligns with the character and hospitality culture of the area, providing a safe and enjoyable environment for patrons.”

In a decision report, planners wrote:

“Due to the siting, height, and length of the structure, it would be readily visible from the surrounding area and from the river estuary.

“The structure would appear somewhat disjointed from the building itself and as such would not relate to the surrounding area, appearing as an incongruous feature and whilst it would sit against the backdrop of the marina, its height, the repeat pattern of the roofing and extended cedar cladding would result in a very obvious and alien feature.

“The impact on the Cowes Conservation Area would be less than significant but there would be a high degree of harm which would not be outweighed by the limited public benefits that would result from the development.

“The application submission has not included an assessment of the impact of development on the setting and significance of nearby listed buildings and there is no consideration given to the potential impact on below ground archaeological deposits or the condition of the existing wall.”

Cowes Town Council objected to the application, citing concerns over ‘noise and nuisance’ and the seating area being ‘overbearing and out of character’.

Planners rejected a previous seating area proposal at 104 High Street from Mr Tewkesbury in August last year.