New interest is being sought in re-opening a Dorset beach café that closed down in August 2023.

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is still looking for a local catering partner to become operator of the former Taste Café at the Fine Foundation Wild Chesil Centre on Portland Beach Road, Portland.

The nature charity, publicising the opportunity on social media, is looking for an appropriate organisation/individual to establish a year-round catering business at the centre, which is just off Chesil Beach. 

News of the Taste Cafe's closure in the late summer was met with sadness by customers, with one saying they had been told the closure was 'a direct consequence of the council's extortionate car parking charges'.

On April 28 new parking charges were introduced at Dorset Council-owned car parks across the county.

Customers arriving by car to the café and parking in the adjacent Chesil car park now have to pay £3 to park for an hour during summer months, which increased from £1.50 an hour. 

Taste Café was awarded gold and silver tourism excellence awards in Dorset and the southwest of England and its team said it has received ‘many fantastic reviews’ left by customers on TripAdvisor and Google.

Announcing its closure on social media, the Taste restaurant team said 'now is the right time to consolidate', focusing on its sister businesses Taste Café at Dorset Museum and Taste Conference/Banqueting and Weddings, which have operated for the last two years within Dorset Museum in Dorchester.

Since the closure DWT has been providing basic refreshments at the visitor centre, with coffees and biscuits available for visitors to buy on a self-service basis.

DWT states the ideal applicant to take over the cafe should offer a range of menu choices for visitors and families that are 'of a consistent high quality and value for money'.  

The catering provision should also operate during visitor opening hours with the option for evenings and functions.

The successful partner will be offered a 'comprehensive operating package' which would include a kitchen, café, storage facilities and an outdoor seating area.

The deadline for applications is February 4, 2024. Those interested in applying should submit a brief resume with relevant experience to ahogben@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

DWT is the largest wildlife conservation organisation in Dorset, with over 27,000 members and 40 nature reserves.

More information can be found at its website.