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Isle of Wight’s Compass Bar plans for new ‘alfresco mobile kitchen’

A popular Isle of Wight cocktail bar may be about to diversify its offering with an ‘alfresco mobile kitchen’ in its rear courtyard garden.

The Compass Bar at 10 and 11 High Street, Cowes wants to change the use of the building from a ‘barista café and wine bar’ to a ‘bar and eatery’.

A planning application has been submitted to the Isle of Wight council by Brian Hicks.

Customer needs and trends since opening have changed
A planning document submitted by Mr Hicks said,

“The Compass opened its door in Summer of 2021. It was hoped for a Barista Café and Wine Bar to be the prominent trade of the business at 10/11 High Street however, customer needs and trends since opening have changed.

“Customers want a more diverse offering of drinks and foods, rather than just a café and wine focused bar.

“With greater market pressures and ever-changing customer needs and trends, this new class of usage for the outlines areas, will allow for The Compass to continue its business and be agile to the environment and industry it resides, whilst securing the employment of its employees.

“The Compass Bar hopes to invite offer businesses to its rear courtyard garden with their mobile kitchen units to trade their foods.”

Four mobile catering ideas
Submitted plans include four mobile catering ideas for how the courtyard garden could be used.

One involves a 1965 Citroen HY Van with five six seat benches and a corner sofa and table.

Other options propose a Pizza Pegoda, Hot Dog Bike or Tuk Tuk Unit in place of the van.

The business currently employs ‘some twenty-five year-round employees’, according to Mr Hicks.

Enhancing the high street’s ‘local appeal’
His application adds a change of use would help support Cowes’s business community and ‘contribute positively’ to the ‘local appeal’ of the town’s High Street and economy.

A Highways Representation prepared by highways service provider Island Roads made no objections to the proposal.

View the plans
You can view the plans on the council’s planning register (24/01775/FUL).

A public consultation on the change of use application runs until 8th January 2025.


This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed