New plans have been put forward to turn a prominent former clothes shop and historic bank into a bar. Freshly detailed plans would see the former All Saints shop in Thurland Street, across from the Thurland Hall pub, turned into a 'Box' bar, which the prospective owners say would be a "high-quality sports bar to eat, drink, view, play and party".
ARC Inspirations bar group have agreed to take over the lease on the historic bank's premises, subject to securing listed building consent, with planning agents stating there was a "real drive from both the applicant and the landlord to open the bar within the winter of 2022", so the Grade II listed building could be quickly brought back into an active use. The group have been searching for a suitable location in Nottingham for some time, and have identified the premises as an ideal location for their 'Box' bar concept – which they say is a "game changing high-quality sports bar to eat, drink, view, play and party".
The listed building, along with neighbouring 11 Pelham Street was constructed in 1879 to form the base for the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank. The bank was converted into two separate retail units in 2004.
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The bar would be spread across the basement, ground and first floor levels of the building, with back of house staff areas and storage space at basement level, the main bar servery and seating areas at ground floor level, and customer toilets and a private dining room at first floor level. Developers have said the physical works would be kept as "light touch as possible" to ensure the historic significance of the site was not harmed.
In a planning document, Firstplan on behalf of applicant ARC Inspirations, said: "The principle of the proposed change of use of the premises to a bar is acceptable and aligns with both national and local planning policies, which seek to promote development which will enhance the city centre’s overall offer; The proposed use will enhance the vitality and vibrancy of the area, improving and adding activity to the city centre and boosting the area’s daytime and evening economy in accordance with council objectives."
A licensing application showed the opening hours of the proposed new bar would be from 10am to 1.30am. The sale of alcohol would be permitted between 10am and 1am the following day.
According to the licence application, the runners want to be able to play live music on Monday to Sunday from 10am to 1am the following morning. And be allowed to play recorded music all week from 10am to 1am.
The applicant claims to have an "established track record of investing significantly in communities and transforming vacant and redundant buildings into high quality bars". They currently operate bars in historical and listed buildings across Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool, and have more than 15 bars in various cities in the north of England.
The Thurland Street planning application is pending consideration by Nottingham City Council. The company also recently applied for a license and for planning permission to change the use of the former French Connection shop in Victoria Street into a New York-style Manahatta bar.
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