Romano Lounge set to open as part of Long Wyre Street development

National café, bar and restaurant operators Loungers, known for brands Lounge and Cosy Club, are the anchor tenants at the East of England Co-op’s Long Wyre Street development.

The opening of the new café-bar-restaurant, Romano Lounge, will provide a ‘home from home’ for families, friends and colleagues to meet. Offering all-day dining, Loungers are well-known and loved for their warm, comfortable atmosphere and unique interiors, as well as their focus on local community.

Having exchanged contracts on the largest ground floor corner unit of the former department store, Hux Norman, Property Manager, at Loungers, said: “We are thrilled to have exchanged on the Long Wyre Street Development in Colchester. We have looked in Colchester for a number of years for a site, so we are excited to finally be able welcome the people of Colchester to Romano Lounge.”.

Investing over £5.5million into the redevelopment, as well as two retail and five restaurant units, the East of England Co-op development also includes 24 apartments, comprising suites and one and two bed units, two of which will be available at affordable rents having worked in partnership with Colchester Borough Homes.

Nick Denny, Joint Chief Executive at the East of England Co-op, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to announce Loungers as our tenant for this development. We are confident that as the development is completed and social distancing restrictions are lifted, this will prove a popular destination.”

Covid-19 inevitably caused delays; however, the project is due to be completed later this year.

Nick added: “I am delighted that our vision is coming to fruition. Town centres have changed. I see them as a place to live, work and enjoy leisure experiences. This scheme is designed to offer just that. The changes to St Nicholas Square, to which we contributed, will further enhance this part of Colchester town centre, and provide space for outside dining.”

The development is currently being advertised nationally by independent retail and leisure property consultancy Jamieson Mills, with discussions with a number of interested parties progressing, whilst the suites and apartments will be let and managed by Fenn Wright, Colchester.