Up-market restaurant chain The Ivy is continuing its expansion with plans to open in the heart of Exeter.
Parent company Troia (海角视频) Restaurants Ltd, which has also looking to open another North West branch in Liverpool, has submitted an application to convert the, directly opposite a Greggs takeaway and a branch of McDonald's.
It is not the first time The Ivy, famous for attracting celebrities to its London eateries, has made eyes at Exeter. In 2018 it abandoned plans to convert a Waterstones bookshop into a new restaurant and bar.
It had even received planning permission for the scheme, but subsequently pulled out of the venture.
Now Troia wants back into the cathedral city with a proposal for 137 covers inside the former Jack Wills store, plus a further 52 of the outside area which would look out onto the Cathedral Green.
It is anticipated the restaurant would create about 100 jobs and the planning application said it will add to the ‘vitality and viability of the centre of Exeter as a whole’.
It also said: “The Ivy Collection have been looking to open a restaurant within Exeter over a number of years. Unfortunately, due to commercial reasons and alternative sites found to be not wholly appropriate, The Ivy have been unable to commit to a premises.
“However, this site, 65-67 High Street, has been identified as an appropriate location to open their new restaurant in Exeter.
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“The proposed restaurant use will be split across both the basement and ground floor. The basement level will mainly be used for the kitchen and back of house area, including staff changing rooms and break room, while the ground floor will provide the main restaurant space with a private dining room.
“The proposed restaurant will have a maximum internal capacity of 137 covers which is split between dining tables, bar seating and a private dining room. It is important to note the bar seating is affixed to the ground in order to prevent ‘vertical drinking’.
“An external seating area is proposed immediately to the front of the restaurant onto Cathedral Yard and along the side passage and this will comprise 52 covers. All external furniture will be removable and stored inside the restaurant outside of opening hours.”
It added: “The Ivy is a well-established reputable restaurant operator with a number of restaurants operating around the country.
“The reputation of the Ivy, the operating hours, and the ‘greeters’ located at the entrances and exits of the site will ensure that the use will not increase the potential for public disorder or crime within the centre.
“The proposal will provide a complementary use and act as a destination restaurant within Exeter city centre, thereby enhancing the vitality and viability of the centre as a whole and will result in significant investment into the listed building.”
The statement said that the principle of development has been established for the change of use to a restaurant at the site already as a scheme was approved in 2007, although the planning permission was never implemented.
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Exeter City Council planners will determine the application at a later date.
In Liverpool, Troia has received the go-ahead by Liverpool council to transform part of the Grade_II listed former bank building on Water Street into a restaurant.
The original Ivy, which opened in London’s West End in 1917, operates as a fine dining restaurant but its other branches, split into Ivy Grills and Brasseries and Ivy Cafes, offer more casual dining.
All its branches outside London operate as Ivy Grills and Brasseries, promising “extensive all-day menus featuring the best of modern British dishes in a relaxed dining atmosphere”.
Troia has 15 restaurants in London, a further 18 around England, two in Scotland and one each in Wales and Ireland.