The Coastal Communities Fund is helping to carry out renovation and repair work, and supply essentials like restaurant furniture, in some of the UK's beleaguered seaside resorts and villages.
In recent years many of these communities have taken a battering, particularly in the worst of the winter weather, which has led to flooding in some places.
Whether they have been flood-hit or are merely in need of bringing up to date, the Coastal Communities Fund exists to help these towns and villages get back on their feet and create the kinds of spaces they need to entice tourists into the area and serve local residents too.
For instance, across three projects announced at the end of October, some £3 million of funding is to be spent, which is expected in turn to attract around £1 million more in private investment, and create up to 250 new jobs.
In Whitehaven, Cumbria, £450,000 has been allocated to the Rosehill Arts Trust to upgrade the Rosehill Theatre as part of a ten-month project.
The scheme is due to see the front of house part of the venue brought right up to date, with an enlarged foyer; a new exhibition space will be created; and some of the budget is likely to go towards buying restaurant furniture to fit out the new on-site cafe.
Meanwhile, restaurant furniture will also be needed in Margate, where Thanet District Council have been awarded £1.8 million to restore the iconic art deco cinema in Dreamland.
The original 1930s facade of the building will be restored to its former glory, and the scheme is expected to provide a boost to local businesses, create over 170 jobs, and attract more visitors to the area on its completion.
Once again, high-quality dining space is a key component in the plan, and a commercially sustainable restaurant will be created within the Grade II listed building, which should allow diners to enjoy their meal in opulent and nostalgic surroundings.
With the right cafe and restaurant furniture a must to echo the surroundings of each venue, it is good that opportunities like the Coastal Communities Fund exist, allowing developers to get it right first time, and ensuring these seaside locations continue to serve residents and tourists alike.