The block of shops and flats currently known as Beachcliff was built by Victorian entrepeneur, Frederick Speed, in 1904.

Originally, the block had private hotels at each end, with the Gwalia Cafe situated at the southern end and Govier's restaurant at the northern end.

For many years, the building was owned by the Rabaiotti family and was home to a series of restaurants, some of which operated very successfully. But Beachcliff eventually became a very troubled building.

In July 2003, concerns about the structural integrity of parts of the frontage of the building led to green netting being draped across the upper storeys. And there it stayed, the condition of the building having deteriorated beyond the ability of the owners to rectify it.

Then in January 2005, Decourcy Ltd, a Bristol based development company submitted a planning application to demolish the building and replace it with a new cafe quarter complex at ground floor level with apartments above. Following intense  lobbying against the proposals by local activists over a period of several months together with mounting planning difficulties, the developer finally quit the project and we ended up right back where we started.

Then, in August 2007, the local press reported that the building had been purchased from the Rabaiotti family by Cardiff based developer RH Properties.  Scaffolding was then erected around most of the building as the developer began essential repair work. A formal planning application was submitted which would provide luxury flats in the upper floors, with the Chandlers pub and restaurant on the ground floor being replaced by a gymnasium facility. However, the proposal was intended to retain the character of the exterior of the building.

By February 2010, most of the ground floor establishments had been closed in preparation for the start of development, and by May 2010 the preparatory demolition work was well under way. However, concerns quickly grew that much more of the building seemed to be being demolished than had originally been anticipated. The developer confirmed that serious structural defects had been found and that their experts had advised that the building could be potentially dangerous.

Development then stopped during negotiations between the developer and the Council planning department until in August 2010 it was announced that a revised planning application was being submitted. The objective of maintaining the original appearance of Beachcliff's facade was to remain central to the plan and, where possible, original materials recovered during the demolition phase were to be reused. However, by the beginning of October, no further development had taken place and the now totally derelict building was in a worse state than ever

Finally, in February 2011, demolition work resumed. However, it was not long before work again halted when it emerged that stonework on the retaining wall that forms the rear boundary of the site was loose. There was also overhanging vegetation and both these matters had to be resolved before work could proceed. It was several months before the legal and contractual procedures were settled and work eventually started on the retaining wall at the end of September 2011. This work was estimated to take 12 weeks following which the main construction work could recommence

We will continue to follow progress with great interest.