DETAILED plans for the multi-million-pound re-development of Lyme’s Three Cups Hotel are revealed for the first time this week.

Owners Palmers Brewery have unveiled their blueprint for the building and surrounding land ahead of today’s public consultation.

Three development options are proposed, plus some core elements common to all of them.

These are to: l Preserve the historic Broad Street frontage.

l Create ground floor commercial or retail use fronting Broad Street and additional units at the rear, allowing public access to ground floor of historic building and offering economic benefits to Lyme.

l Provide residential units on upper floors plus a small terrace of mews houses – essential to pay for the multi-million-pound costs of regenerating the site.

l Redevelop the passageway leading through from Broad Street into vibrant, attractive retail and restaurant area behind Three Cups building.

l Create new-build, upmarket restaurant of about 64 covers in the area behind the Three Cups, possibly attracting a celebrity chef.

l Build a path linking through to Langmoor Gardens.

The three options in additional to these core elements are for: l A sunken home in the land beyond the restaurant.

l Six ‘beach hut’ styled rooms on the land beyond the restaurant and two further double rooms in the roof space of the restaurant.

Between them, these rooms would provide at least 16 bed spaces for nightly let on the site.

l An enlarged restaurant and expanded terrace taking up more space.

John Palmer, managing director of Palmers Brewery, explained the thinking behind the plans.

He said: “‘We are committed to finding a future for the site that is both economically viable and benefits Lyme Regis.

“In the last year we have fully investigated the possibility of re-opening the Three Cups building as a hotel, but the independent study as verified by West Dorset District Council’s own experts has confirmed it is unviable.

“Now we want to hear what everyone in Lyme thinks of the options so we can choose the best scheme for a planning application.’ The exhibition will be open at the Pilot Boat from 12.30pm to 9pm. Palmers’ representatives will be on hand and people will be invited to submit written comments.

l Lyme’s Save The Three Cups group insists it will not back any scheme that does not involve the building returning to its original use as a hotel.