Iconic Gourock Bar Reveals Plans For New Al Fresco Area

Bosses at a busy bar and restaurant want the go-ahead to take over a disused space beside the premises for a new al fresco dining area.

Inverclyde Council is considering a bid from The Cafe Continental to use the barren gap site beside the popular town centre venue, on Kempock Street.

The land is owned by the Local Authority, which is now set to hold a public consultation over the leasing idea.

It sits between the Cafe and the adjacent Sainsbury's, Rebecchi Architectural and Bowman Rebecchi offices, and overlooks the River Clyde with a staircase linking the street with Lower Kempock Street and its car parking facilities.

Rebecchi Architectural has supported a bid by Cafe bosses to create a split level plan for the site, with tables and chairs on a decked upper level and a bin store facility underneath.

Gregg McLeod - who runs the Cafe Continental - said the plans would give Kempock Street another attraction for visitors.

He said: "My view is it is a messy area at the moment and this would help to keep it clean.

"Nobody down here has got outside drinking and I think that's a big plus for us.

"It's a facility for the community in general.

"The gap site is unused and if it is kept tidy and made presentable people could use it."

Due to several Planning classifications assigned to the site, a full public consultation must be carried out before any lease can be considered.

Municipal Building officials are understood to be preparing the consultation and when the exercise is complete a report would then be submitted to the Environment and Regeneration Committee.

In addition to the Council approval, a proposed lease would require court consent, as the site falls under inalienable common good legislation.

This article appeared in the Greenock Telegraph.