MeCycle in Ainsdale Village in Southport is getting a new outside area for customers to enjoy this summer.
The popular café and bike shop at 59 Station Road, close to Ainsdale Train Station, has been granted planning permission by Sefton Council to create an outside seating area including planters, tables, chairs and a pedestrian guard rail.
The layout of the design includes three bench table seating to each Chesterfield Road surrounded by advertised guarding and planters.
The meCycle planning statement said: “Its location and size of pavement allows this to actually add value to the appearance of the surrounding area and be a service to the local community. “Tables and chairs surrounded by guarding will benefit the area by creating a sociable atmosphere.
“It will also try and increase sales to counteract the effects the pandemic has had on the business.
“We need to create more revenue to ensure the business stays viable.
“The seating area is to be used within the hours of 8am to 8pm Monday to Sunday.
“The proposed seating will be situated close to the glazed frontage leaving passage for customers and waiters / waitresses.
“The layout has been considered to allow people to move between the tables and for employees to safely wait-on seated customers.”
The MeCycle cafe and bike workshop in Ainsdale in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Media
Established in 2011 MeCycle was originally set up as a project in Seaforth by Autism Initiatives. It moved to its current corner site at Ainsdale in 2012 and has proved to be a popular destination with cyclists from all around Sefton and much further afield.
MeCycle restored the previous Spar store and used mainly recycled and second hand furniture to fill the shop and give it its unique look and feel.
MeCycle prides itself on recycling as best it can, making sure that all scrap metal is recycled.
MeCycle receives donated bikes and refurbishes them for resale in the shop along with a range of new bikes and cycle accessories. It also fixes and repairs. All repairs are either completed by or overseen by Cytec qualified bike mechanics.
The MeCycle cafe and bike workshop in Ainsdale in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Media
The MeCycle café acts as a popular destination for cyclists both locally and as far afield as North Wales, Manchester and Chorley.
You will always see families, couples and groups meeting and chatting, eating and drinking from a selection of barista coffees, teas, cold drinks, beers and wine as well as home-made cakes, soups and sandwiches.
MeCycle works alongside Peterhouse School and OSSME and local schools to create a selection of meaningful alternative education placements within the busy setting of this social enterprise.
Young people can learn about and gain skills in employability, cycle maintenance, sales and customer service, catering and café work, recycling, handling cash and banking, health and safety in the workplace.
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