REDCAR Beacon’s spectacular seafront café which is due to open in the Spring, took a significant step forward today with the announcement that local operators Westbrook Restaurants have been appointed to take charge of the new venture.

The café will be a “Seasons” restaurant run by partners Ian Woodcock and Jane Gallogly. The pair already run two very popular Seasons in Richmond Old Station and Post House Wynd, Darlington.

An opportunity to run the café was put out to tender by Redcar and Cleveland Council and Westbrook Restaurants was the successful company.

The café will have a ground floor base as well as a second floor terrace that overlooks the beach and will be an ideal place for visitors to the town to take a break.  Admission to the Beacon is free.

Councillor Mark Hannon Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration said:

“The Beacon is a physical symbol of the fact that the regeneration of Redcar is working.

“The regeneration is putting millions of pounds into the local economy - whether it is via construction jobs, new businesses moving into the Palace Hub or extra work created by boosting tourism.”

Jane said:

“Our name ‘Seasons’ reflects the fact that we use locally sourced, home produced food – so it is of course seasonal – we offer simple food done very well.

“We are passionate about the food we sell – including the tea and coffee all of our tea is loose leaf tea and our coffee is triple certified – Rainforest Alliance, Organic and Fairtrade.

“At the Beacon we will offer three hot dishes a day, two soups, sandwiches, Paninis – and lots of home-made cake!”

Jane’s partner Ian is the chef – he trained at the George V in Paris and the Grosvenor in London . They started the Season chain five years ago.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Councillor Olwyn Peters said:

“The Beacon is a landmark building at the heart of the new look seafront and we believe it will encourage visitors to come to Redcar to see what’s new on the horizon.”