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AN ICONIC Southampton building that has played a part in the city’s history since 1907 could be transformed into a new cafe.
Plans have been submitted to Southampton City Council to transform part of Royal Mail House – a Grade II listed building – on Terminus Terrace into a cafe.
A listed building means that the building means that they are of special historical or architectural interest.
The proposals details plans for a cafe with French doors, external canopies, outside seating, replaced windows and reinstated roof lights.
The plans also state that the cafe would be open from 6.30am to 11pm.
The building has played a fundamental part in the history of Southampton.
During the 1840s, the two leading mail steamship companies – Peninsular and Oriental, which became P&O, and the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company – chose Southampton to be their main mail packet station.
The two companies being attracted to Southampton’s port is reported to be largely responsible for the success of the docks.
The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was originally based near the dock gates on Canute Road but in 1907 it moved to the the building on the corner of Terminus Terrace and Queen’s Terrace which had previously been Radley’s Hotel.
The plans were submitted by Mr David Hurlock of Landance Ltd, which is already based on Queen’s Terrace, Southampton.
The rooms that would be transformed into the cafe were previously known as the Britannia Suite and were most recently let as offices.
The Suite is located on the ground floor of the building in the south east corner.
The Royal Mail House is already currently occupied on the ground floor by a bar restaurant, and two commercial units being a shop and offices.
The two French doors that have been proposed will be in place of two existing fixed windows to the sound of the building, along with altercations to the railings, new external canopies and outside seating.
