Weston-super-Mare's Old Thatched Cottage to get blue plaque

Having been built in 1791, the Grade II-listed cottage is thought to be one of the town's oldest buildings

A family-run restaurant is to get an English Heritage blue plaque celebrating its history.

The Old Thatched Cottage, in Weston-super-Mare, is the last surviving thatched house in the town.

Having been built in 1791, the Grade II-listed cottage is thought to be one of the town's oldest buildings.

Andie Jefferies, restaurant owner, said: "The arrival of the prestigious blue plaque is a fitting tribute to cottage's rich and storied history."

"Having owned the cottage for more than 60 years, my family are hugely honoured to be guardians of a building that has played such a huge part in the evolution of Weston-Super-Mare," she continued.

"We've unravelled even more about the historical importance of the cottage, its past occupants and its resilience through time and we're looking forward to sharing this with future visitors."

Maria Michael, Andie Jefferies' mother, and her family have owned the restaurant for more than 60 years

The cottage was built by the Reverend William Leeves for use as a holiday home for him and his family.

Over more than 200 years, it has seen many changes with the building surviving major storms on the seafront and four fires in its thatched roof.

The restaurant has since been passed down generations from Ms Jefferies grandfather to her mum, and now she shares it with her brother and sister who are both involved in the business.

Recently refurbished

"It's really special to us to receive this plaque for the building and the recognition," she said.

"We have lots and lots of regular visitors that come back year after year."

She said the building has recently undergone refurbishment.

"We've put sort of like the gas fires outside, which are really popular for the outside dining now, where we never use sort of like utilise that space before," she added.

People have been invited to come to celebrate the blue plaque's unveiling at the restaurant on 1 November.