It is appropriate that two of the men leading the restoration of a famous northern landmark are both local lads. Robertson Construction England group managing director Andy McLeod and contracts manager Chris Price both hail from Whitley Bay, where the contractor has been on site this year for the restoration of the iconic Spanish City. "This has a special place in the hearts and minds of people in the North-east," Mr McLeod says. "There was a heritage open weekend before we started work, where over 16,000 visitors came along, which gives an idea of the interest level." No pressure, then. But restoring the Grade Ⅱ-tisted building will be a painstaking process. Spanish City was built on the Whitley-Bay seaf rant in 1910 as a concert hall, restaurant and roof garden, with a ballroom added in 1920 and later a funfair. But it had fallen into disrepair by the 1990s, with weathering from the North Sea taking its toll. It has been closed since 2000.
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