Plans to install a shiny metal café trailer adjacent to Cheltenham’s iconic Pittville Pump Rooms have sparked controversy. The Cheltenham Trust has submitted a proposal seeking permission from borough planners to convert the land outside the Grade I listed 1830 building for use as a temporary coffee and food outlet.
The proposal includes retaining existing portable toilets and storage containers, which have been on site since the temporary Orangery café was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trust plans to use a trailer similar to a classic Airstream model, equipped with essential kitchen facilities such as a fridge freezer, hobs, and ovens. The café would operate seasonally, typically from April through October, with tables and chairs placed under the Pump Rooms’ portico and in front of the trailer during operating hours. These furnishings would be removed daily.
According to the planning documents, the temporary café would remain on site until the Trust’s current lease for the Pump Rooms expires in 2029. The initiative is intended to test the viability of a café before determining a permanent solution either within the Pump Rooms or as an addition to the rear of the building. The proposal also calls for over-cladding the existing toilets and storage areas.
READ MORE: Major M5 Development Near Cheltenham Set to Deliver 4,000 Much-Needed Homes
READ MORE: Concerns Grow for Missing Cirencester Man Last Seen Entering Black Seat Altea
However, Historic England, the government’s advisor on heritage matters, has expressed strong reservations about the impact of the plan on the historic building. They noted that since the exterior toilets were initially installed temporarily during COVID restrictions, they could be removed altogether if internal facilities were made accessible to café patrons.
Historic England also suggested relocating the storage container to a less prominent location, questioning whether the currently cited reasons for maintaining their position and opening hours are sufficient justification. They further argued that the reflective metal cladding and form of the proposed trailer would stand out inappropriately against the principal façade of the Grade I listed structure, creating an undue visual impact.
The public is invited to comment on the proposals via Cheltenham Borough Council’s planning portal by searching application 25/00380/FUL. The consultation period remains open until June 3, 2025, with a planning decision expected by June 28.