Dorchester's Brewery Square Development to get Cafe Rouge

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National chain Café Rouge is to open a restaurant in Dorchester’s prestigious town centre development at Brewery Square.

Andrew Wadsworth, co-director of the development, said the restaurant had picked a prime location as the terrace café in a square at the heart of the site. He said: “I’m delighted. It’s a key part of the next phase of the development and will be the café alongside the fountain in the square. It’s a big name and it’s good for the town. It shows there is confidence in Dorchester.”

Café Rouge will be located within the Bonded Stores building that is part of the former Eldridge Pope brewery at Weymouth Avenue. It will have around 100 seats in more than 3,000 square feet of the building. It will feature canopies and offer outdoor tables and chairs on terraces next to a fountain designed to be a centrepiece of the square.

Derek Beauchamp, chairman of Dorchester Civic Society, welcomed the news that Café Rouge is moving to what had been an industrial part of the building. He said: “The building needs a new lease of life and this is good news. It will be a big improvement to that part of the building and I personally like the terraces. You can’t preserve buildings in aspic and if they get a sensitive treatment for the way they are sitting in the street scene then that’s fine.”

Mr Beachamp also stated that he was pleased the distinctive features of the listed building were being retained in the conversion.

Mr Wadsworth said that two other restaurants, a café and a bar are to be incorporated in the building as well as the fountain café. The two restaurant units are under offer. The building will also include a 250-seat function room.

The Bonded Stores building is the initial part of the second phase of the development. The first phase, which  includes residential and retail units and a new medical centre, has gained national recognition for its robust performance in the current difficult market conditions.

Mr Wadsworth said: “Phase one is nearing completion and we’ll be looking to start phase two in the next few months.  Café Rouge will be going in at the rear of the Bonded Stores and that part of the building will be altered and greatly improved by having the terraces and café area there. I’m very pleased it’s happening.”