First look inside The Edge
We’ve got the keys to The Edge! After years of visioning, planning, and watching it take shape, we’ve officially taken ownership from the main contractor Thomas Armstrong. With the build phase now complete, the focus shifts to the stage many of us have been waiting for – bringing The Edge to life.
Over the next few months, the building will undergo a carefully managed interior fit-out. When we stepped inside for the first time, it felt modern, industrial, and full of promise. Carpets are now laid, walls are painted, and sleek lighting fixtures glow against freshly finished surfaces.
Stunning views from one of the bedrooms
There’s a cavernous, shell-like quality that gives the space real character – raw and expectant, ready to be filled with the sounds of conversation, music, clinking cutlery, and the rhythms of harbourside life.
As you enter the reception and café area, natural light floods in through a full wall of sliding glass doors, leading onto what will soon be a vibrant outdoor seating area. This part of the café offers panoramic views of Whitehaven’s harbour, cliffs, lighthouses, and the Solway Firth beyond. Opposite, a long counter stands ready to serve as both reception and café bar, with the kitchen and pantry to be fitted out behind.
Reception and cafe area
At the far end of the room, a small raised stage hints at a future filled with live performances, community events and business presentations. A striking chrome and glass staircase leads to the mezzanine, up here light filters through a series of playful windows - each one unique in shape and size - creating the feeling of sitting inside a giant sliding picture puzzle. Even without furniture, the space already feels like somewhere people will want to be.
Mezzanine seating area
In the coming weeks, bespoke furnishings and purpose-built fittings will be installed – transforming this fresh canvas into a warm and welcoming community hub.
Office space
Wherever possible, we’re working with brilliant local suppliers to deliver the fit-out. Brooks of Whitehaven are supplying the TVs and sound system, David Allen IT (Carlisle/Workington) is handling internet and phones, Sealy in Wigton is providing beds and mattresses, and Fidget Design in Windermere is leading the interior design.
One of the bedrooms
We’re also preparing to welcome the team who’ll bring The Edge to life every day. Recruitment is under way for a Community Activity Co-ordinator, who will champion the venue by connecting with local groups and organisations to explore how the spaces can be used and enjoyed. Osprey Management Group – who will manage the building day to day – will begin their own recruitment in May, with roles including night management, duty managers, housekeeping, and general assistants.
So, what can you expect when The Edge opens its doors to the public this summer? Inside, you’ll find a welcoming, accessible space designed to serve both the community and visitors alike. Facilities include six public toilets (a long-awaited addition for Whitehaven), changing rooms and a drying room for groups to use, a bookable meeting room, a bright, modern café area, a small stage for performances and presentations, a mezzanine level ideal for gatherings and events, and 16 unique en-suite bedrooms - each with its own distinctive windows and stunning coastal outlook.
Public toilets
Built to modern green standards, The Edge features air-source underfloor heating and motion-sensor systems for lighting and ventilation throughout, as well as solar technology on site to support the demands for power that come with modern lifestyles.
Changing rooms and showers
It’s been built as a coastal activity centre – with kayakers, wild swimmers, cyclists, walkers and sailors all welcome – but the vision is much broader. We’ve always hoped it would be just as valuable for toddler groups and book clubs as it is for training sessions or sea cadet events. It’s a space for community groups, artists, musicians, heritage clubs, hobbyists and outdoor adventure providers. It’s for the people of Whitehaven and anyone who wants to discover our beautiful town beside the sea.
Looking onto the cafe area from the stage
For the most part, we won’t be delivering activities ourselves – instead, the space will be brought to life by local groups and organisers who will bring the energy, creativity and expertise, and we’ll provide the space, support and facilities to help them thrive. The Community Activity Co-ordinator will play a vital role in building those partnerships, and in helping us secure funding towards future development and long-term sustainability.
Stage area
We’re incredibly grateful for the support that’s helped get us to this point – particularly from our main funders, Sellafield Ltd’s Social Impact Multiplied (SiX) programme and the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund.
Another stunning bedroom view
Once open, The Edge is designed to sustain itself. All revenue, from café sales to room bookings, will be reinvested into the building, its running costs, people, programming, and improvements. It’s a circular model of sustainability that we hope will benefit not only The Edge but the wider harbour and community.
Drying room
For now, the new building smells of fresh paint and echoes with possibility, but in just a few short months it will be buzzing with the sounds and delights of harbourside life. We can’t wait to welcome you!
