In Lymington, Hampshire, Berthon Shipyard has secured approval to keep its waterfront café following a retrospective application. The New Forest District Council has granted permission for the café, which was installed without prior planning consent, to remain operational.
The café, situated on Bath Road and offering pizza and coffee, boasts views of the Lymington River. The application emphasized that the café, described as “modest and functional,” is a crucial amenity under the Gold Anchor scheme—a standard developed by the marina industry to enhance customer services and raise quality benchmarks.
The proposal to retain the café received backing from the Lymington and Pennington Town Council. The district council’s approval stipulates that the café must operate between 8 a.m. and 30 minutes past midnight.
A council report noted that some of the café’s structures were deemed developments requiring planning permission due to their size and permanence. However, the report highlighted that these structures are relatively low and harmonize with the surrounding commercial environment of the site.
The report further indicated that the food and drink service constitutes a small-scale use within the broader commercial context of the shipyard. The environmental health team had no objections to the proposal, provided that operational hours are restricted as specified.