“Inspired” plans to transform the rooftop of Newcastle’s beloved Fenwick department store into a cafe have been approved.
Council chiefs have granted permission for the Northumberland Street institution to create a new eatery that would have views across the city centre.
Fenwick’s rooftop is usually off-limits to shoppers, though a section of it is used at Christmas for the store’s special ‘Santa on the Rooftop’ events.
But the fourth floor terrace area is now set to open as a cafe and restaurant, featuring a bar, a street food servery, a charcoal grill, and a retractable awning.
It will be located on the section of the department store facing onto Northumberland Street, behind the Fenwick sign.
An opening date for the new venue is yet to be confirmed, but shop bosses say they are already putting the final touches on the development and will be able to reveal more in the very near future.
Kieran McBride, store director at Fenwick Newcastle, said: "We're really excited to be bringing a brand new rooftop drinks and dining experience to Fenwick Newcastle this summer. We're just making finishing touches and will be announcing full details very soon."
The plans were described as “an inspired use of rooftop space of this important Newcastle landmark building” by the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, an organisation dedicated to protecting the region’s heritage.
But an objection against the proposals was lodged by the owners of the neighbouring CityApartments flats.
They warned that residents of the 20 apartments have complained previously about noise from Fenwick during its famous Christmas window displays and that a new cafe “poses a very real threat to the peace and amenity of the otherwise quiet street as its first 'late night' venue”.
They did, however, say that the plans were “spectacular” and that they would likely remove any objections if potential issues around noise and smells from the rooftop site bothering neighbours could be mitigated robustly.
Newcastle City Council said that its public safety and regulation experts were “happy that there would not be an adverse impact on neighbouring properties in terms of noise or odour from the development”.
