Central Devon MP and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride has visited the newly opened café and restaurant at Bovey Paradiso. He caught up with David McGahey, who chairs the charitable Community Benefit Society, owned by over 400 Members holding community shares.
Bovey Paradiso has given a new lease of life to the historic 16th century King of Prussia building located at the top end of Fore Street and is well on its way to becoming a lively community arts and entertainment centre. The restoration of the Tudor building has been undertaken in three phases with an art gallery being completed in 2021 and a high-quality café and restaurant opening last month. The final phase will be a cinema and theatre.
Mr Stride has rowed in strongly behind various government funding bids, including a recent application for the current round Community Ownership Fund. He last visited the Paradiso in November.
David said:
“It was great to welcome Mel to Bovey Paradiso again and show him the progress since his last visit. We are continuing to press for the third and final pot of funding we will need to achieve our goal of providing Bovey and its surrounding rural communities with a fantastic arts and entertainment hub.”
Mr Stride said:
“The local arts scene is flourishing and I will continue to lobby for funding so everyone who has worked so hard on this project can see their ambitions fully realised. The food and drink available here at the café and restaurant is excellent and I would strongly encourage anyone who has not yet visited it to do so.”
For more information visit www.paradiso.org.uk.
