Students and the manager of an historic cinema in Lenton have welcomed plans to convert an old bank into a shisha bar. Proposals to transform the vacant site were approved during a council meeting in March.
Mr Usman Hussain submitted plans on behalf of Mr Umar Asghar at the end of last year and city councillors discussed the application during a planning meeting on Wednesday, March 23, where it was unanimously granted permission.
Mr Asghar is planning to convert the 1970s building into a restaurant, via an extension, with an open shisha area outside. It will sit next door to the historic Savoy Cinema, which is the only surviving pre-Second World War theatre in the city.
Read more: Nottingham house most viewed in UK
Despite objections and two petitions from residents of the nearby Palmer Court independent living complex, the plans have been welcomed. Paul Scotton, 37, the manager of the Savoy Cinema, says he is pleased the building is being put to use, regardless of the business.
“I hadn’t really put much thought into what I wanted next door, it’s out of my control isn’t it?" he said. "I’m just happy there’s a business going in there rather than a dilapidated building just sitting next door.
“Hopefully it’ll be a good business as well. It’s a prominent student area, so fingers crossed it can thrive.”
Concerns had also been raised over the continued "studentification" of Lenton. It was said the bar would have a greater appeal to the student population.
Students in the area however welcomed the plans. Toby Stow, a 20-year-old student and resident of Lenton, said: “It sounds good, I think.
"I know vapes and stuff like that have become the new thing, haven’t they? Everyone is using them all the time, so it’ll be pretty appealing to a lot of students in the area.”
And Richard Muir, Lenton resident and a 21-year-old student, also felt it would be good for the area and added: “I’m fine with it opening honestly.
"Where I’m from, there’s a lot of shisha bars and places like that and there’s already a few in town. I don’t see it being a problem. Where it’s located, it would be good to go after a film at the Savoy Cinema, it’s good to have a place like that to chill.”
The application was also opposed by Nottingham City Homes and the Nottingham Civic Society. as a result a number of conditions have been placed on planning permission.
These include a 10pm curfew for the outdoor seating area along with an 11pm curfew for business operating hours.
Labour councillor Graham Chapman of Aspley said: “The restrictions the applicants have agreed to which is very helpful, including the opening times, the use of the frontage and the excluded use of the car park area for outdoor seating and I think that will be very helpful and on that basis my recommendation is we vote for this.”
