Having purchased the freehold of The Old Floral Pavilion Leisure Complex in a multi-million-pound purchase and refurbishment project, Harrison Leisure Ltd is securing the future of the iconic Bridlington seafront building.
Michael Harrison, founder and owner, said:
“This is a significant investment for us after 36 years as a long-established tenant of The Old Floral Pavilion, first with East Yorkshire Council and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
“We have spent many hundreds of thousands of pounds over the years and now that the council has sold us the freehold we are in a position to put in the investment to secure the building’s future.
“As part of a multi-million purchase and refurbishment programme we have already spent £250,000 on the installation of a new imitation Edwardian wire polycarbonate and aluminium roof to replace the aged Edwardian cast iron and wire glass roof.”
Refurbishment plans, brought to the drawing board by Townscape Architects and currently with the planning department of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, will give a complete makeover to the front facade, which ‘is very tired, cluttered’.
The inside ironwork for which the 1904 Pavilion is listed* will be subtly reflected on the front with a modern fitted ironwork colonnade coupling with the restoration of the front wall that will transform the Pavilion looking out to sea.
The plans also include a full renovation and refurbishment of the rear, western elevation facing the town with new backlit signs fabricated to match the new ironwork, and glazed canopies with aluminium colonnades.
The Old Burger King unit at the north end of the Pavilion will also be restored to its original state and become a single restaurant.
“There are other parts of the building that we’d like to renovate as we go forward,” added Mr Harrison, who was very optimistic about the future for the business and the town.
“The Old Floral Pavilion is an amazing site for us to have secured and is the lynchpin of our future plans as we look to continue to invest in the whole of the seafront area.”
Since moving north from Slough in 1984 with his family, whose roots are in funfairs, Mr Harrison founded the Harrison Leisure Group, which is responsible for Salt on the Harbour and The Brunswick Hotel. Mr Harrison’s hard work, endeavour, and team-based ethos led to the formation of the Harrison Leisure Group, which operates Salt on the Harbour and The Brunswick Hotel.
In the beginning, Michael and his family operated a food kiosk and holiday rides, then expanded into a small seafront amusement park, leasing The Old Floral Pavilion Leisure Complex, where he built a bar, restaurant, ice cream parlour, amusement arcade for children, fish and chips shop, and restaurant.
“When I first came here in 1984 the Pavilion was closed and there was little or nothing in the way of amusements,” added Mr Harrison, who put Bridlington under the national spotlight for tourist destinations in 2007/08 with the resort’s 40-metre, Eye on the Bay observation wheel and its 24 enclosed gondolas.
Salt on the Harbour, the high-quality seafood restaurant overlooking Bridlington harbour, opened last year after a £250,000 investment that included a full building refurbishment and jobs for 30 full- and part-time staff.
