Students unveil bold new vision for Colchester’s Jumbo Water Tower

Students from Essex’s Edge Hotel School have come up with ideas for the future of Colchester’s iconic Jumbo Water Tower, delivering bold new suggestions that impressed project leaders.

The consultancy project challenged students to develop creative proposals for the historic structure, building on earlier calls for fresh ideas to transform the much-loved site. Rising to the task, the group went beyond the original brief, proposing that Jumbo should become a destination restaurant, The Balkerne Bistro, rather than a traditional events venue.

Their concept blends dining with exclusivity, suggesting a limited programme of just 12 weddings per year, supported by a targeted campaign to emphasise the uniqueness of the space. The students also recommended engaging the local community by launching a school competition to design the venue’s branding, alongside developing a virtual reality walk-through to showcase their interior concepts, fabrics and colour schemes.

The innovative approach has already made a strong impact. Irene Kettle, Trustee of North Essex Heritage, the charity behind The Jumbo Project said: “The project was incredibly well received, I was impressed by the students’ enthusiasm, expertise and ideas."

The Jumbo Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the Grade ll listed former water tower will be conserved and adapted into a commercially viable and accessible visitor attraction and venue.

The project reflects the Edge Hotel School’s hands-on approach to learning, where students tackle live industry challenges and develop practical solutions with genuine impact.

Adrian Martin, from the Edge Hotel School, said: “This consultancy tested our students with the freedom to recommend a whole new strategy for Colchester’s famous Jumbo Tower. They did us proud with a superb presentation and may well have shaped the future of this iconic local building and helped create a place for future students at the Hotel School to work in and learn the trade.”

The initiative not only demonstrates the creativity and professionalism of Essex students, but also underlines the potential for collaboration between the University and local partners to shape the future of the region’s heritage assets.