The former Morecambe Visitor Information Centre could become a cafe bar under plans revealed by the new Friends of the Platform group.
The Friends want to move The Platform’s bar into the old tourist information centre space next to the arts and music venue.
The Visitor Information Centre closed in September 2023 due to council budget cuts.
The bar is currently inside the Platform venue, but some concert-goers say noise from the bar can spoil performances.
Proposals to move it and run it as a daytime cafe bar and information/booking facility have been proposed by the Friends group, which was formed earlier this year.
They believe opening the Platform cafe bar during the day could be a source of revenue for the venue.
They also fear that the former VIC could end up being used by a company who'd want to open it to capitalise on the Eden Project Morecambe, planned for the other side of the Promenade opposite the Platform.
The Friends are calling for Lancaster City Council, who operate the Platform, to give them the former VIC on a peppercorn rent. If approved, they will begin to fundraise for the new venture.
A council spokesperson said: "The council appreciates the valuable support and contributions it receives from all its friends’ groups and always happy to discuss any ideas they might have for improvement. We are in regular contact with the Friends of The Platform, Morecambe and will perhaps find out more about this and other ideas the group may have at a future meeting."
The group, chaired by David Morgan, aims to look to secure external funding to support the venue and provide volunteers for events.
There are also plans for a membership scheme in future to raise more funds.
The Platform, which hosts many events, concerts, shows and festivals, is located inside Morecambe's former railway station building.
The council originally planned to stop operating the venue in October 2023 but this was extended to March 2024 after residents rallied against the plans, setting up petitions calling for the former railway station to stay open.
They had been in talks with three un-named third-party operators who were interested in taking over the running of the venue.
But then in November 2023, the council announced their intention to keep the Platform in-house.
Councillors said at the time, that their new plans "should generate tens of thousands of pounds of additional revenue to safeguard the venue as the profile of Morecambe grows as a destination with the advent of the Eden Project".
The next Friends meeting will be held on July 3 at 6.15pm at The Platform. All welcome. You can register your interest HERE.
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