Developers are wanted to transform a derelict café into a new restaurant and heritage centre.

Hastings Borough Council is calling for experienced developers and operators to put forward their ideas and proposals to restore the West Hill Café to its full potential.

The council wants to find a partner who will work with the council to develop, build, operate and maintain the new building as a café, restaurant and an interpretation centre for telling the story of Hastings Castle.

In 2021 Hastings was one of 101 UK towns to receive a share of the government’s Towns Fund to kickstart the regeneration of the town with funding of £24.3m.

Earlier this year the Town Deal Board approved the project’s business case and the council has allocated £3m of Town Deal money to invest in the project to improve the café as an interpretation facility with food and beverage provision and access to Hastings Castle with modest improvements within the castle itself.

The redevelopment focuses on five key areas, documents state.

These are providing full accessibility to the West Hill, refurbishing the West Hill lift upper station, café and public toilets and provide an interpretation centre, develop a new connection to re-instate the entrance to the castle from Ladies Parlour, providing a covered area within the castle which is subject to agreement from Historic England, provide landscaping to the surrounding grounds and incorporate digital technologies that will enhance the visitor experience.

The council regained control of the building after a legal battle with its former tenants this year.

The café, in Castle Hill Road, offers some of the town’s best views but was shut all summer.

Councillor Andy Batsford, lead councillor for health and culture, said: “This is a unique opportunity to lead the way in the transformation of the flagship project for the Hastings Town Investment Plan.

“I look forward to seeing plans to transform the West Hill Café site, incorporating an interpretation centre, which will significantly boost tourism and enhance the visitor experience overall.  Ensuring the castle site is a must-see destination for everyone and restoring the café to its full potential is very important for our town.”

Submissions will be open until December 8, 2023.