From the business desk: celebrating successes and heralding a new start for cheerleaders at park

As I wrote at the time, it was hard to imagine how the grotty former nightclub would be turned into what its new tenants pitched as a ‘wow factor’ wedding venue.

One year later, it would be difficult to disagree with Phil Duckett and Richard Bradley’s vision.

The newly-refurbished Southern Pavilion now offers residents and visitors from around the Herald and Gazette area a reason to stray from the promenade and onto the pier.

While the Southern Pavilion has received rave reviews from numerous visitors and business figures have widely praised the new facility, there will always be the select few who feel the venue’s café is a little on the pricey side.

But from what I am hearing, the venue has had a very encouraging start.

Visitors who do not fancy the premium prices can enjoy a classic cup of tea and ice cream at the lower-priced concession half-way down the pier – there is now something for everyone.

I wish the Pavilion team every success and hope they enjoy another fruitful year.

Elsewhere in the area this week, a debate erupted at Adur planning over the change of use of a unit at Lancing Business Park.

The park has a high take-up of units and is practically full-to-bursting but councillors granted a cheerleading group sole use of a unit to expand their operations on Monday.

The decision did not please regeneration councillor Pat Beresford, who was keen to safeguard as much business space as possible.

But the cheerleading group were stuck. They had nowhere else to turn and faced closure if they could not secure permission for the only site they had identified in the area as suitable.

While councillor Beresford’s views were understandable, the fact nine jobs were to be created as a result of the application being approved did, in my view, mitigate the loss of important business space.

Sometimes, a commonsense approach is needed and councillors rightly recognised the need to welcome a successful group into Adur with open arms.

I am sure the park will welcome the uptake of another unit and it is refreshing to see such high occupancy rates.