Drone snaps show new seafront restaurant is starting to look '˜ship-shape'

Gazette reader Alan Hall has snapped a number of pictures of Gandhi’s Temple, which is being developed into a new seafood restaurant by South Shields fish and chip business Colmans.

Mr Hall used a drone to capture the panoramic views of the site off Sea Road in South Shields.

The building, which was originally built as a community seating shelter and public toilets in 1931 and later used as a bandstand, has now taken on the nautical shape of a ship.

When completed in spring it will be known as Colmans Seafood Temple.

Richard Ord, owner, said: “Construction work is going really well at the moment, and we’re still on track for completion in spring.

“The feedback we’ve had from the public has been phenomenal, we’ve been amazed by how much interest has been shown already.”

Colmans, was established by Mr Ord’s great grandfather as Frankie’s in a hut on the beach in 1905 - just a stone’s throw away from Gandhi’s Temple.

It has won countless awards, including Best Restaurant in the National Fish and Chip Awards, and is now based on Ocean Road where it employs 35 people with a further 35 jobs expected at the new development.

Jason Wood, director at Sunderland-based Brims Construction, who are carrying out the work, said: “Work is progressing well on the new seafood restaurant. This is an exciting scheme which is transforming a landmark South Shields building and we are delighted to be involved in helping to bring this vision to fruition.”