A cherished part of Cleethorpes’ Victorian heritage, the former railway waiting room, has been meticulously restored and is now playing host to The Mermaid Cafe, which also serves as a fish and chip shop. The traditionally constructed building, which was originally commissioned in 1874 by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, has undergone a striking transformation. A substantial sum of £395,000 has been invested into the refurbishment of its exterior, a project which was supported financially by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Railway Heritage Trust. The leaseholders themselves funded the refurbishment of the interior.
The historical images played an integral role in the restoration process, which included preserving the 1884 cast iron framework, replacing timber parts, and installing modern roofing, gutters, and downpipes. Carol Heidschuster, the Townscape Heritage Project Manager for North East Lincolnshire Council, emphasised the significance of the original building. She also highlighted that the paintwork replicates the original railway company’s colours.
Leaseholders Charles Crawford and Craig Brown have expressed their long-held aspiration to see the building restored, a dream which came to fruition following their attainment of Listed Building consent in 2021.
This narrative was derived from original coverage by www.bbc.com, and tailored by The Lincoln Post.
