A DREAM to create a true community arts centre takes a significant step forward later this month as it opens a new dining area.

Six years ago a community interest group was established to buy the long-closed King of Prussia pub in Fore Street, Bovey Tracey.

A comprehensive programme of works was undertaken to convert the building – parts of which date back to Tudor days – and The Paradiso, as it became known, has been running its art gallery since July 2021. Now, in just a few weeks the next phase in the project, opening a new cafe and dining restaurant, will take place. 

Come the end of the month, some 40 settings will be temporarily available in what is currently the exhibition space. Diners will be able to enjoy lunches and evening meals surrounded by the latest exhibition works.

Andrew Huckerby and the old coaching house entrance which will eventually become the entrance to the dining complex.
Andrew Huckerby and the old coaching house entrance which will eventually become the entrance to the dining complex. (-)

A comfortable reading area is also planned where people can enjoy a coffee while looking through art books and vintage gallery programmes.

Board member Andew Huckerby said: ‘It’s an ad hoc arrangement which will remain in place until the seating area proper is completed. You could say it’s a pop-up cafe in a pop-up exhibition space.’

When the new seating area proper is completed, customers can enjoy a new space which will seat up to 80, providing them with a view onto the kitchen.

There, all the meals will be created by Bovey Tracey chef Mark Newton, who is currently designing a new menu, which promises to use only locally-sourced ingredients where possible.

All the kitchen equipment is now in place and work continues apace to create an 80 seat glass-roofed dining area next to it.

Access will eventually be via a street entrance which used to be the old coaching house courtyard doorway in horse-drawn times.

The work doesn’t stop there though. The ultimate intention is to build a theatre / cinema space at the rear of the property, and fundraising continues to fulfil the ambitious project.

 Andrew said: ‘There has been a setback as building material costs have increased so much over the past year.’

The deceptively large area to the rear of the building has been razed and today remains bare... but hopes remain high that this will soon be transformed into a brand new entertainment facility.