The owner of a Newcastle restaurant that has lain empty for seven years is seeking permission to transform it into new offices and a cafe, in a bid to finally fill the space.
Modern tower block City Quadrant was opened on the corner of Neville Street and St James’ Boulevard in 2007 to provide six floors of residential accommodation, two floors of offices and two retail and leisure units.
However, while Akbar’s restaurant thrived in one of the ground floor units, the other has been empty ever since a restaurant closed there in September 2012.
Headline-grabbing Hooters – a bar chain famed for its scantily clad staff – made attempts to open up on the site in 2015.
But the US chain of sports bars was knocked back in its bid for a late night licence until 1.30am, and since then no other potential leisure tenants have come forward.
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Now, in a bid to fill the space and also meet growing demands for city centre office space, the Welbeck Estates Company Ltd, has applied for permission to change the registered use of the unit, from a restaurant to an 820sqft cafe and 4,575sqft of offices.
Planning consultancy Edwin Thompson has submitted the application on the owner’s behalf, saying: “On the ground floor a popular Indian restaurant occupies one of the retail/leisure units whilst the other unit, subject to this application, remains empty. This premises has previously been occupied by a furniture shop and, most recently, a restaurant.
“Internally the property would have the existing mezzanine floor extended over the whole floor to provide two full floors of accommodation throughout the unit. The property would be split to provide a café to the bullnose section and service offices of various sizes.
“There would be shared toilet facilities between the café and offices and break out area and kitchen facilities to serve the offices.
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“The offices will be managed by an onsite team with facilities shared between the occupiers. The development will provide high quality serviced offices that have proven to be popular in the area.
“The property has been advertised since the property became vacant in 2012.
“Substantive interest was raised by an international restaurant chain in 2015 although this was unable to be completed as they were unable to obtain a premises license. Since this time the owner has reduced the rental price for the premises but there has still been no demand for the property.
“It is therefore considered that there is no demand for a unit of this size in this location for retail/leisure use and that other options should be explored.”
