Cafe
The 1859 Pier Café & Bistro (named after the construction date of the original Swanage Pier) opened in mid July and is now well established and very popular. Why not visit for breakfast or an evening meal? The glass conservatory extension is the perfect place to enjoy views over the whole of Swanage seafront.
The interior of the cafe has three glass floor panels where you can now peer below your feet into the historic saltwater baths that gave Marine Villas its original purpose.
Exhibition
The Fine Foundation Visitor Centre exhibition area is now open and includes a display of artefacts recovered from the Kyarra and loaned by Divers Down; a marine aquarium with marine life from under the pier; a model of the pier; historical photographs; and a touchscreen video display showing various films about the pier.
Gift Shop
The new look gift shop is open and well stocked with marine artefacts, books, fossils, games, handbags & scarfs, and bespoke handmade jewellery, biscuits and chocolates.
Upstairs
Upstairs, Marine Villas has a meeting room with a view available to hire.
The installation works to the new community radio station, ‘Purbeck Coast FM’ are continuing, and the studio will be available for volunteers to start practicing again early next year.