Middle Beach Cafe to cease trading after National Trust decision

Middle Beach Café, in the National Trust reserve of Studland Bay, will cease trading for the final time on Monday, January 2 when its lease expires. 

A café has stood in the same spot since 1904 and the current building, opened in 1953, has been trading under Paul Brown for nearly 37 years. 

The National Trust said the building must be demolished after coastal erosion rendered the cliff edge, where the café stands, as “unsafe” very soon.

Middle Beach cafe in Studland (Image: Daily Echo)

Paul told the Echo the closure marks the “end of an era” and that it is “such a shame” the decision was made to close the café. 

“I am sad to say goodbye, but I can’t fight nature and I definitely can’t fight the National Trust,” Paul said. 

“We’ve tried – there have been petitions – but it hasn’t worked. In the long term, the trust is not wrong but it is also not right.” 

Middle Beach cafe in Studland (Image: Daily Echo)

The trust has submitted a planning application for a temporary catering unit to be positioned on the clifftop at Middle Beach, but Paul said he does not wish to put in a tender for a new offer. 

Julie Peters, Studland project manager, said over the years Paul has provided an “amazing offer” for visitors.  

Middle Beach cafe in Studland (Image: Daily Echo)

She added: “We have had some excellent submissions by local independent businesses, so are pleased we will be able to continue the tradition of a locally run café.” 

The National Trust said climate change is having a “visible impact” on the Studland coastline and that current sea defences have “failed to prevent change”. 

Tracey Churcher, general manager of the National Trust at Purbeck, said: “Whilst we are unable to prevent the impacts of climate change, we are working in a pragmatic way, to continue to provide the facilities that our visitors have come to expect.  

“The best way to do this is to move the facilities to an alternative location before the erosion creates safety issues and sadly we are now close to that point.”