WORDSLEY’S landmark Red House Glass Cone attraction remains open for business and activities for children, the council has said following the closure of the site’s long-running café.

News of the closure of the Red Cone Coffee House, which ceased trading on January 22, has saddened locals and customers.

The coffee shop, located in the courtyard of the historic cone site, had a customer rating of four-and-a-half stars out of five on Tripadvisor and had been operating for 11 years.

Rising costs were blamed for its demise in a post on the business’s Facebook page, while traders at the cone have raised concerns about a lack of visitors and trade since major works to restore the Grade II listed cone structure got underway.

Dudley Council has moved to reassure locals that the attraction remains open for business, with an array of children’s activities lined up, despite the “extensive” scaffolding around the iconic cone itself.

Councillor Paul Bradley, cabinet member for communities and economic delivery, said: “The restoration work is properly underway, you can see the extensive scaffolding around the cone for miles! The site and all its studios are still very much open for business during this important work.

“All of our January crafting workshops are sold out, but there are still spaces left for some of our half term activities. A trip to the cone is a lovely day out, with free parking, a visitor centre to look around, exhibition space, craft activities and of course our independently run designer maker studios.”

During February half-term there will be three glass fusing sessions for children aged seven and over. Dragon glass fusing sessions will run on Monday February 12 and Tuesday February 13, with dinosaur glass fusing on Friday February 16. Sessions will run from 10.30am to 11.30am, noon to 1pm and 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Places cost £8.75 plus a small booking fee, and children under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Adult chat and paint sessions will take place in the ground floor Education Room on Friday February 23 at 10.30am and 1pm. This month people can paint a wooden heart in the style of Polish Wycinanki designs. All materials and a cuppa is included for £8.75 per person (plus small booking fee).

Youngsters aged 12-plus can join in a spring suncatcher and tea light glass fusing session on Sunday February 25 at 1.30am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 3pm. The cost is £17 (plus a small booking fee) which includes all materials.

The cone will also be hosting free trails for children and many onsite artist studios will be open for drop-in activities, demonstrations and sales.

Tickets for activity sessions can be booked via ticket source https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/red-house-glass-cone or for more information see the things to go page on Dudley Council’s website.

Future events include two social value days to give visitors chance to find out more about the restoration works with free guided tours and talks, an array of activities at Easter; plus activities and displays during the International Festival of Glass in August.

The cone site is currently open from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday and from 11am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.