IT'S been threatened with demolition, it's been called ugly, it's been sold for close to £300,000, it's been painted in it's many incarnations and it's had a 1950s diner-style facelift.

But now the iconic Cafe Royal in Tannery Road, Bridport is likely to get a new lease of life - as a takeaway pizza restaurant.

Bridport Town Council planners were discussing their views on the change from cafe to takeaway at their meeting on Monday.

There was some regret that it was to stop being a cafe after so long - it's been one since 1954.

There would be no seating for customers but toilets - more than when it was a cafe, said Cllr Dave Rickard.

He added: "It's a shame that it's stopped being a cafe."

There was a massive space inside, he said, so there would be no problem with queues of customers outside.

Cllr Mrs Terry Harrison said it had been going a bit downhill lately but there was a danger that the new takeaway could be noisier for residents.

Cllr Sarah Horniman said having a cafe there was an attraction for coach drivers to come but that wasn't a planning consideration.

The takeaway would be open until midnight and there was some concern about neighbours and the position of any extractor fan could be disturbing.

Councillors had no objection but asked for the extractor fan to be put as far away from residential properties as possible.

As part of the plans to redevelop the SouthWest Quadrant The Cafe Royal was to be torn down but after plans wer thrown out property developer Nicholas de Savary bought the cafe at a fiercely competitive auction in 2011.

It was given an American Fifties diner-style facelift the following year by chef Tony Marraffa.

And it was Bridport artist Kit Glaisyer who was commissioned to paint the cafe.