Plans for a new bar in Nottingham have been given the go-head. A Grade II-listed building will be converted into BOX, which the proprietors say will be a "high-quality sports bar to eat, drink, view, play and party".
ARC Inspirations are behind the scheme at a property in Thurland Street, which was previously occupied by fashion retailer All Saints. The group, which has bars in historical and listed buildings across Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool, had been searching for a suitable location in Nottingham for some time.
The 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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Nottingham City Council approved plans which will see the bar 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.
However, ARC Inspiration's proposals to open a second venue have been delayed. The company wants to turn the former French Connection shop in Victoria Street into a glamorous New York-style cocktail bar but concerns surrounding the changes to the interior of the Grade II-listed building are holding up the plans. If both bars are approved, it will create 200 jobs in Nottingham.
ARC Inspirations was founded by Martin Wolstencroft and Chris Ure and now has 19 venues in total under the umbrella of three brands.
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