First Tenant Of Renovated 'Temple' At Black Rock To Open Coffee Shop In Spring

Kemptown coffee shop owner Philip Cundall is set to become the first tenant of the newly renovated Temple at Black Rock and is 'delighted' to be opening his second coffee shop in the city.

Philip has run Portland in Kemptown for the past six years and is now taking on the lease of this historic building and will soon be giving it a new lease of life.

Designed and built in 1835 as a ‘garden temple’ by William Kendall, the architect who laid out Madeira Drive and Esplanade and designed the nearby Reading Room, the Temple has been restored by Brighton & Hove City Council as part of the Black Rock Renovation Project.

With the structural work now completed, Philip is looking forward to taking the project to the next stage.

“The view from the Temple is stunning and I am thrilled to be able to look out over the sea while establishing a new business in such a charming and unique building,” said Philip, who was born and raised on the Isle of Wight and grew up near the sea.

Converting an historic building is not a new undertaking for Philip. Following a career in the visual arts, running galleries and working in design companies, he took over a Georgian townhouse in Spitalfields, London in 2010 running a British deli and food shop.

“After five years of running ‘Cundall & Garcia’ I decided to move to Brighton (and back to the seaside) to open a coffee shop and gallery space,” said Philip, who carried out a full refurbishment of the Portland building in Kemptown village, creating a coffee shop and incorporating a retail area for local makers and a gallery space for artists' work.

“I’m extremely proud that Portland is now firmly established and embedded in the community, providing a welcoming space in Kemptown for people to meet, work and relax,” he said.

The Temple, on Brighton’s eastern seafront, has a fascinating history - originally it was a folly, a playful destination for the residents of the surrounding crescents and squares to enjoy the views and take the sea air. During WW2 it was occupied by the military and then fell into disuse.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to repurpose the Temple while honouring its past and creating a neighbourhood hub and meeting place,” added Philip.

“I want to retain a sense of playfulness in my restoration of this unique building, creating a destination for the community to come together, meet, sit and enjoy the beautiful views, just as they did almost 190 years ago.”

Food and drink will once again be enjoyed on the paved terrace overlooking the sea. The Temple will be a coffee shop during the day and Philip is applying for a Premises Licence to be able to serve alcohol during the summer months.

“On long summer evenings, this is the perfect spot to enjoy the view and amazing sunsets we get over the sea,” he added. “To be able to sit with a glass of wine or a cold beer would be the perfect end to a summers’ day.

“I plan a simple and sympathetic transformation of the space, preserving original features whilst creating a beautiful interior room and an attractive outside space.

“All building materials will be locally sourced, furniture and fittings upcycled or vintage and the paved terrace will have permanent planters made of repurposed or sustainably sourced wood.”

Where possible, Philip will use local and small-scale suppliers including Brighton-based ‘Red Roaster’ coffee, Real Patisserie bread and pastries, Sussex-based milk, ice cream, snack and soft drinks suppliers.

Brighton & Hove City Council’s lead member for major projects, Councillor Julie Cattell, said:

“We are so pleased that Philip can now breathe new life into this small but beautiful little building.

“It is one of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of the Black Rock Renovation project so it was hugely important that the new tenant not only understood the unique history of the building but would work with us to preserve its unique character.

 “We look forward to seeing Philip’s plans come to life, as he completes his renovation and, of course, enjoying a coffee on the terrace later this spring.”

The renovated Reading Room will also shortly have a new tenant and an announcement is likely to be made within the next few weeks.