THE Largs man spearheading plans to breathe new life into a prominent town centre building has revealed more details about what's in store - scotching at least some of the online speculation about the project.
The News reported in October that a major renovation was planned for the Main Street building formerly occupied by Lounge - with its new owners planning to invest a six-figure sum in the revamp.
When complete, Number Thirty3, as it will be known, will comprise a restaurant, entertainment and events venue, and hotel.
We reported in October of a six figure investment and renovation of the much loved Lounge building in the heart of Largs town centre - as exciting plans were revealed for its restoration.
Phase one of 'Project 33' will see the bar, restaurant and nightclub renovated, with an anticipated reopening in May.
Phase two, a boutique hotel with between seven and nine rooms on the second and third floors, will start next year, with a hoped-for completion date of 2025.
The couple behind Project 33 are entrepreneurs Kevin and Janet Cumings, who have recently been living in Zambia.
And their long-time friend, Largs resident Walter Smith MBE, is acting as project consultant and overseeing the resurrection of the building.
Pouring cold water on one of the rumours circulating around the town about the building's future use, Walter said: "I can categorically say that it is not going to be a Chinese restaurant.
"The idea is to have a sophisticated blend of, we hope, African and Scottish cuisine.
"We are going to have a cocktail bar, which will be highly re-styled, and we will have an events suite, which was formerly the night club, for birthday parties, weddings, conferences, and meetings.
"The historic panel feature in the club venue will be retained and painted white for weddings and so on.
"It is a major restoration."
The property was built in 1902 and was home for decades to the popular Mackay's tearoom, before the Happy Days fitness club and Carriages nightclub in the 1980s, and Lounge more recently, occupied the building.
Walter also says the stormy weather that has battered the Clyde coast in recent weeks has actually been of benefit to the project team.
He said: "We anticipated there would be issues given it is such an old building, but the bad weather has been a blessing in disguise, as we have been able to carry out a full assessment of what repairs are necessary."
Local tradesmen have been heavily involved in the work carried out so far.
"We have been taking the wood panelling, all the 290 square metres of it, back to the original, and that is going to be restored in a very light gold honey colour," Walter continued.
"We have our own 'Michaelangelos' working away on enhancing the interior look, with areas repainted, plastered and revarnished. It is really going to look marvellous when it is all finished.
"The windows have all been measured and we will be replacing all the windows on the front elevation, on the Main Street, so there are 18 windows effectively getting replaced on the three floors."
Scaffolding has already been put up around the building to allow for repairs to the sandstone and roof and installation of those 18 windows.
Walter concluded: "It has been a dream to see it getting resurrected, and people will see all these exciting developments take shape over the next couple of months."
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