PLANS to give the Cheese and Grain a £500,000 overhaul were given the green light by town councillors at a meeting last week.
Frome Town Council passed plans to invest half a million pounds into the Cheese and Grain as part of an initiative to make the venue self-sufficient and not rely on the £35,000 that the town council gives to the venue each year.
But Frome Town Council must first seek government approval for borrowing the money to invest in the project, along with planning consent and approval from Mendip District Council, who are the freeholders of the Cheese and Grain, before work can start.
The plans include making new meeting, training and rehearsal rooms, a new bar and café that is open seven days a week, as well as creating four or five new full-time jobs. The plans were approved at a town council meeting on Wednesday 20th of February.
The box office will be open all day, every day and into the evening, selling tickets for events across Frome, and for events and outdoor festivals across the region.
Speaking to Frome Times after the meeting, leader of Frome Town Council cllr Mel Usher said, “It is an exciting time for the Cheese and Grain and the trustees are enthusiastic. The town council will look to completely stop the Cheese and Grain subsidy by next year.
“But the works that are being carried out will cover this and make the Cheese and Grain a self-sufficient venue.
“We hope that the works will be finished by December of this year, that’s subject to borrowing the funds and Mendip District Council giving us the go-ahead.
“For the cost, Frome gets a better, self-reliant venue.”
Manager of the Cheese and Grain, Steve Macarthur believes there will be little opposition from Mendip District Council saying the scheme “saves taxpayers money, creates jobs and supports local enterprise. It will strengthen the Cheese and Grain’s reputation as a regional venue, bringing in badly needed visitors, who will use Frome’s hotels, restaurants, taxis and takeaways.”
