Objections to wine bar plans despite promise of 20 new jobs for city
MORE than 20 jobs could be created if a new wine bar gets the go-ahead in Derby city centre, despite concerns that there are already too many bars and pubs in the area.
Developer Tony Sandhu wants to convert the former Yau's Chinese restaurant, in the Wardwick, into a bar aimed at people over 25.
-
He says that, if Derby City Council grants him the go-ahead, the bar will open in July, creating 20 part-time and two full-time jobs.
But shopkeepers with businesses near the site say they do not want more firms in the street that attract drunks and open at night, instead of attracting daytime customers.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
The area's shop fronts were recently returned to their former Victorian or Edwardian glories through a £1 million scheme, funded by Derby City Council and English Heritage.
Trevor Raybould, of chartered surveyors Raybould and Sons, on the Strand, was involved with the restorations and said it was time to stop allowing new pubs to open nearby.
He said: "A lot of private money has been invested in this area and it will stop if this type of application is encouraged.
"There are three empty shops in the Strand at the moment, which need to be reoccupied quickly. Pubs do not mix with libraries, museums, shops and offices."
John Sallis, owner of Strand Wools, in the same street, said another pub would mean "more cleaning up of vomit, urine and worse from shop fronts".
Mr Sandhu said the site had "not been a retail operation for the past 40 years" and had "always been an evening restaurant" in that time.
He said the bar would be aimed at "more high-end clientele" and be "relatively quiet in comparison to other venues [in the area]".
Mr Sandhu said he planned to spend about £300,000 on refurbishing the building, which is grade two listed, having originally been a townhouse from the late-17th to early-18th century.
Council officers have recommended the wine bar is given the go-ahead by the authority's planning control committee on Thursday.
9 Comments
by make_redgreen
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 8:42PM
“He said the bar would be aimed at "more high-end clientele"
Gordon Brown said he wouldn't let the housing market get out of control!”
by oscardoodle
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 5:41PM
“I regularly walk along that route in the early morning to work, and I often feel like I'm in an episode of 'CSI'. You can guarantee that apart from regurgitated fast food there will be pools of blood. I don't know why the Police have not objected, since at 4:30am on many mornings there is a Police vehicle and often an ambulance on that stretch, since a fast food outlet down there often seems to host the last free-for-all of the night. Still, I daresay that any Police liaison with the Council will result in the Wardwick being closed from Friargate bridge to the Spot at night to avoid any more drunks getting run over.
OscarDoodle's tip for the day- when going for a beer, get out of town by 8:00pm, and keep a bottle at home in the fridge (South African pinot, preferably).”
by SarahL123
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 2:20PM
“@Http_404
Shame Strand Wools ever had to move, and ironic that its original home is...that's right...a bar! :-)”
by Http_404
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 1:28PM
“suitable sized pins are available from nearby Stand Wools as mentioned in the article Sarah ;)”
by Poika
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:20PM
“It is possible to go into town, even on a Saturday night and miss all the idiots. You just have to pick the establishments you frequent with a little care... I can think of about half-a-dozen places where you can have a beer without the idiot squad spoiling things.”
by janine2011
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:25AM
“Council officers have recommended the wine bar is given the go-ahead by the authority's planning control committee on Thursday.
They are only thinking about the business rates the council will be getting so am not surprised the officers have recommended the go-ahead.
The chances are Mr Sandu won't be spending any time working in the premises so won't see what it will be like or who will frequent the place but one thing is certain it will hardly be the over 25s because as Sarah says who in their right mind would venture into town at night any night of the week, never mind weekend.”
by SarahL123
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:35AM
“Yet another bar, but this time one aimed at the over 25's - because grown ups really want to go into town among the drunken teenagers for a pleasant drink with friends! I can think of a dozen things I would rather do than go 'down town' on a Friday or Saturday night - top of the list would be sticking pins in my eyes!”
by Monsieur_Lupo
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:57AM
“Such a pity. Yau's (and previously the Shing-Do) did the best Chinese/Cantonese food in the city centre, in my opinion. A real loss.”
by Filnzero
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:31AM
“I'll have a Shar-donny anna Peena- ka-larder. Saaaand yooowth!”