Rocket House Café in Cromer open despite RNLI museum closure fears

The Rocket House Café, on the first floor of Cromer’s Rocket House building at the end of the Esplanade, is still open for business despite the RNLI looking set to close the Henry Blogg Museum on the ground floor later this year.

The lifeboat charity has said a chronic damp problem is causing costly damage to its collection

It has served a break notice to North Norfolk District Council, which owns the building, to terminate its lease in July.

READ MORE: Famous Norfolk lifeboat museum set to close

However, the Rocket House Café’s owner, Robbie Kirtley, says his café upstairs has not been hit with the same damp issue and remains open.

The owner of The Rocket House Café in Cromer, Robbie Kirtley (Image: Adam Barker)

“We’ve been promised by the council that the café won’t be affected by any future repair works which take place at the Rocket House - we won’t be closed at any stage,” Mr Kirtley, who opened the café with panoramic views overlooking Cromer Pier and the North Sea in 2006, said.

"I have no damp issues at all anywhere in the café. The council is doing as much as it can to get the issue fixed downstairs. 

"I’ve always had a great relationship with the RNLI and its volunteers, and together we’ve made this building a success. Hopefully that will continue for many years to come.

READ MORE: Hopes to save historic Norfolk lifeboat museum from closure raised in parliament

Rocket House Café owner Robbie Kirtley alongside his staff (Image: Adam Barker)

"This building, in my eyes, is as iconic in Cromer as the pier. It's not going anywhere – it’s too much of an asset with the lift offering disabled access down to the promenade and pier. 

"People have supported us through thick and thin and we can’t wait for the upcoming season.

"Easter and the summer are our busiest periods, but even outside of those times the great thing about this place is that it’s a local café which people enjoy all year round."