Plans to reopen a shut Nottingham bar that is just yards away from Nottingham Castle have been proposed. Documents submitted to Nottingham City Council by JRA Bars Ltd have outlined that the business wants to rebrand and reopen the closed French 75 bar at 92 Friar Lane in Nottingham city centre.
The company wants the council’s permission to change the building’s first floor to create more seating, storage areas and additional customer toilets for the new venue. “JRA Bars Ltd intends to reopen the currently closed ground floor drinking establishment, rebranding and re-energising the offer with new decor, menus, etc,” company director James Aspell told city planners.
The businessman explained that the first floor of the building, which had been empty for years, would have seating for 10 guests if the plans were approved – adding to the 25 spaces on the bar’s ground floor and 26 in its garden and pavement. He told the planning authority that six full-time jobs would be created when the premises reopened.
The ground floor use and operation would remain largely unchanged apart from redecoration and re-branding works, the applicant explained. Mr Aspell added the building on “attractive” Friar Lane was in a good condition and would only need repainting.
Asking city council planning officers to approve the application, he added: “The location has already operated relatively successfully in its limited capacity as a drinking establishment for a number of years, while the offices above have remained unoccupied. This proposal would bring them back into use.
“The ground floor use and operation would remain largely unchanged save for redecoration, rebranding and re-energising the offer with new decor, menus, etc. Approving this proposal would allow the new operators to enhance the offer, expand the day-to-day operation and create a business that can thrive.” The planning application will be considered and decided on by Nottingham City Council at a later date.