Project Description
CLIENT: West Wittering Estate Plc
PROJECT: Café & Education Centre
SMD was proud to work with WWE on the creation of a new beachside café at West Wittering Estate, located at one of the South Coast's most popular tourist destinations, West Wittering Beach. With the existing café reaching the end of its lifespan, there was a need for a new building that could efficiently serve the high volume of visitors during peak summer season and also provide a welcoming space for off-season visitors, particularly during inclement weather. While catering services were an important feature, they were secondary to the building's primary function—providing a versatile, well-designed space for guests.
The new café presented an opportunity to set the tone for how the estate would manage the increasing number of visitors in a way that was safe, efficient, sustainable, and most importantly, enjoyable.
One of the biggest challenges for the design and construction team was to create a multi-functional building. The café needed to serve thousands of beachgoers with ice creams, drinks, and light snacks during the summer, while providing a warm refuge for hundreds of local dog walkers in the winter months. The solution was a building that offered flexible spaces, adaptable to changing needs throughout the seasons.
Working with a fantastic client and design team, we successfully delivered an iconic building that not only met but exceeded all expectations. The project was awarded at the Sussex Heritage Trust Awards in 2021, and the café continues to offer an exceptional visitor experience year-round.