THE new Tropicana café is open for business, with early feedback suggesting the public seem pleased with the makeover.

The former pool has been empty for 15 years but part of the site is now home to new café The Bay, which offers sandwiches and snacks, plus a bar.

Today, for those who have yet to visit, we are offering a peek inside the newly-renovated building, which seats 80 people indoors and 40 outside.

The café cost £545,000 to create, although the Mercury understands the total forecasted spend for the Tropicana’s ‘light refurbishment’ stands at £1.2million.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “The café has been tastefully designed and brings a quirky, fresh space for people to eat and drink while visiting the beach.”

According to a Mercury poll, 42 per cent of people love the new design while 24 per cent like it and 21 per cent say ‘it’s alright’. Just 13 per cent said they were not a fan.

The café will initially be operated by the council, but the authority is starting a procurement process as it looks to ‘secure the long-term future of the building’.

The spokesman said: “A market-testing exercise will start later this year and the council is hopeful that, with the building already partially refurbished and open, there will be a greater degree of interest from the business community about the future potential for the site.”