People in Nottingham City Centre have spoken out about what they’d like to see replace the old Lloyd’s Bank on Pelham Street. Many people would like to see a restaurant.
The Lloyd’s Bank closed down in 1995 and now, a part of what was that bank is Lloyd’s No.1 Bar Wetherspoons. Since the closure of the bank, the part of the building which is vacant has been Element, a shoe shop and an Ugly Bread Bakery Store.
There is an application being considered for a Caribbean tapas restaurant on Pelham Street. It has been proposed that the restaurant will have a basement with a kitchen and a bar and other fittings to the ground floor.
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Now, people in Nottingham would like to see another restaurant to add to the many that are already there. Ally Snowdon, 35, self employed from Bilborough would like to see more dining in the area. She said: “The architecture of this building is so lovely, I feel like the only thing this place could be is a restaurant but in an area like Hockley, where there’s so many cafes and restaurants, that’s to be expected.
“Hockley is always so busy, especially in the summer so it would be nice to see a new restaurant, maybe an independent one like many others around here to help someone’s livelihood.
“Many people work, shop and eat around here so whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll do well. When I have time, I like going into the Hockley Kitchen or Braze.”
Seventy-five-year-old Derek Raynor who lives in Hockley is retired. He remembers the old bank and said: “The banks were always beautiful buildings and offered good service, it was a bank years ago though.
“Around here, it's mainly retail and food. I’d like to see a posh chippy and not too many bars, more restaurants.”
Derek went on to say: “I think that the city centre has changed for the better, people have more money than they did to spend in these restaurants, when I was a child, I wouldn’t have dreamed of going to a restaurant. In the Victoria Centre, there’s a noodle place which is popular, the variety is all different now and I’m sure in 10 years, it will change too.”
Peter Bailey, 44, is a nurse from Carlton. He said that whatever the empty space turns into, he’ll pay a visit and said: “I really enjoy being in this end of town compared to other places.
“The restaurants and coffee shops are some of my favourites. I can vaguely remember it being a bank but I’d like to see any restaurant really. I eat meat but somewhere that caters to all dietary needs is what most restaurants do more of now and like the Wetherspoons [next door] they could have a small outdoor seating area..
"I'm not too fussed about pubs there's the Wetherspoons and more further down into Hockley and many in the city centre, restaurants are more catered to everyone."
