Restaurant plan is fitting the bill
Plans to turn a former theatre into a restaurant have been supported by Southwell Town Council.
The plans for what is now the Down To Earth herbal medicines shop at 6A Market Place, Southwell, were submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council by Mr Douglas Gascoine, of the Gascoines Group, Church Street, Southwell.
The application also includes plans to replace modern windows in the buildings with traditional sash windows.
A similar application submitted last year was withdrawn before it could be considered because of objections relating to flues from the kitchen being visible from the street.
The site comprises several buildings at the junction of Queen Street and Market Place.
The lower floors of the buildings accommodate various retail tenants.
The first floor was formerly occupied by Gascoines auction rooms but is now used for storage.
The restaurant would be above Mills Newsagents, The Old Grain Store Co, Down to Earth and Minster Flowers. Access would be through the Down To Earth premises.
The herbal medicines shop is expected to move to similar sized premises within the main shopping area in Southwell.
Mr Brendan Haigh said the building was a popular theatre in the early 1800s.
Councillors, who unanimously supported the plans, suggested there should be a reference to the theatre perhaps in the name or theme of the restaurant.
The application said the restaurant proposal would keep the first floor of the building in use and help maintain the high standards of townscape and environment in that part of Southwell.
It said the proposed restaurant would bring new life in the evenings to an area that was largely associated with small-scale shopping in the daytime.
It said the restaurant, which would seat 50 people, would make up a shortfall in high standard dining in the area.
It said it would help maintain the sustainability of the town by providing local employment and a service for residents.
The application said jobs would be created in the conversion, restoration and restyling of the existing building and the restaurant would need management, waiting, kitchen and cleaning staff.
It said the venture would help support the local economy by sourcing produce and services from local traders.
A spokesman for the applicant’s agent, Guy St John Taylor Associates Architects, said it was not yet known what kind of restaurant it would be.
The application will be decided by Newark and Sherwood District Council.
