A seafood “concept” restaurant chain is eyeing empty commercial space at Plymouth’s Royal William Yard – and could become one of SEVEN new restaurants coming to the historic former naval base.
The as yet unnamed company is expected to move into an empty unit in the Slaughterhouse, the large building at the entrance of the yard and already housing a Wildwood eatery, having made an offer to rent the 2,222sq ft space.
Urban Splash, the firm that is developing the former victualling yard, recently confirmed Cornish-headquartered burger chain Hubbox will open in the large central Melville building, as will hip cinema chain Everyman, which also has a food offering, allowing punters to eat and drink in its “pod” screens while seated on sofas. Both are expected to be open by 2020.
Manchester-headquartered Urban Splash is predicting the remainder of the 90,000sq ft building, the centrepiece of the yard, to be complete by 2021 – potentially bringing another FIVE restaurants to the area.
There is room for a water-facing diner, on the ground floor directly under the cinema, and four other eateries around the internal courtyard, which will be landscaped and perhaps have outdoor seating.
The new restaurants will join the Stonehouse yard’s existing diners including Seco Lounge, Prezze, Wagamama, Las Iguanas, Bistrot Pierre and the aforementioned Wildwood.
“We are establishing Royal William Yard as a place to eat,” said Emily Handslip, director of commercial lettings at Urban Splash.
“The remaining Slaughterhouse is under offer from a seafood concept. It will be a sit-down restaurant – but with more than just a sit-down menu. It will be next to Wildwood.”
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Mrs Handslip did not reveal anything more about the venture, but nationally a new wave of seafood options has been energising the restaurant trade – including seafood breakfasts, quick snacks and an increased hunger for shellfish.
The in-the-pipeline letting is the latest positive news for Urban Splash at the yard, with several buildings now fully let.
These include Residence 2, the Gatehouse/Guardhouse, and the large Mills Bakery, home to several businesses in addition to residencies.
Meanwhile, the Brewhouse unit that once housed Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Canteen and Deli is to be the new HQ of pasty firm Ginsters.
There are plans to convert some of the Factory Cooperage to town houses, and work is progressing at pace on the Melville building.
Inside the Grade I* listed building a 3,900sq ft ground-floor space is due to be handed over to Hubbox in the first three-months of 2020.
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And a team from Everyman has been in the yard to check on their second-floor base on the front right-hand corner of the building.
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That will be handed over to Everyman early in 2020 ready for the company to fit out he 9,000sq ft space.
Cinema-goers will enter via a ground floor door and take the stair of a lift to the top deck where they will enter a lounge and bar and then buy tickets for one of three cinema “pods” which will sit inside the historic building.
Each will hold about 100 people, sitting in sofas, one to three seaters, where they will be able to eat while watching a movie.
It is expected for the cinema to be ready and open next year. Meanwhile, Urban Splash said there is also space for some small shop units around the courtyard, where the listed doors will be pinned back and glass entrances installed.
But the larger units may not be restaurants and Urban Splash is also scanning for alternative leisure operators such as “boutique bowling”, indoor crazy golf, or ping pong.
The entire columned first-floor, and the majority of the open-plan second floor, will be converted into offices with Urban Splash keen to attract a major tenant, possibly to use the complete space, or a whole floor, as a HQ.
But the two upper decks are flexible enough to be split up if smaller businesses want to move in.
Mrs Handslip said the message to large businesses keen to relocate is: “You need to base your business here.”
She added: “A big HQ operator would be fantastic on these floor plates, they are incredible.”
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To contact William Telford: william.telford@reachplc.com