UK-wide hospitality company ‘Loungers’ could soon have one of their café bars based at a recently closed Tenby seafront bar and restaurant, situated alongside South Beach.

Loungers, founded in 2002, runs family-friendly Lounge café bars across the UK – including the Cofio Lounge at the Guildhall, Carmarthen, and the Waldo Lounge at Haverfordwest’s Riverside.

In an application [Reference: NP/25/0741/ADV] submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Bristol-based Loungers UK Limited, through agent Richard Pedlar Architects, seeks permission for the installation of new fascia signage and a new totem sign including a menu board at Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, Battery Road.

Illustrations for the signage application show the Loungers signage, bearing the name ‘Lansio Lounge’ in the Loungers font, Lansio translating from Welsh to ‘launch’.

Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, a family-run venue based in Tenby, announced its closure on social media, confirming that Sunday, January 4 was its final day of trading. The establishment had been run by the family since 2021, after Covid.

Tom and Sian of Salty’s, who also run the Twelve bar and restaurant at The Mews on Upper Frog Street, shared: “We are unbelievably grateful to every single customer who has walked through our doors.

“We would like to wish the future proprietors every success and happiness in the years ahead.”

The Loungers application is only for the signage, with any restaurant scheme unlikely to need approval as the existing location was a similar business, avoiding any need for a ‘change of use’ application.

Tenby Town Council members discussed the application at their recent meeting, and is recommending approval for the signage; but PCNPA’s buildings conservation officer Rob Scourfield is recommending refusal for the proposals, in the town’s conservation area.

A report states: “Section 160 of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act requires that when considering planning applications, special attention must be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the area.

“As a rule of thumb, we have no allowed internally illuminated signage within the CA, despite pressure to do so. The employment of discrete externally-lit signage would be preferable – as submitted however, the proposal will have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area.”

Loungers has been contacted about the proposals and its future plans.

The application will be considered by PCNPA’s development management committee at a later date.