Birmingham pub set for rebirth under new plans from bar group
A BIRMINGHAM pub closed for more than eight years is set to be given a new lease of life under plans submitted to the city council.
The James Brindley, off Bridge Street, closed in 2008 and has since fallen into a dilapidated condition.
Now the company behind bar brands The Botanist, Oast House and Smugglers Cove wants to renovate the property and reopen it in a move that could create up to 90 new jobs.
New World Trading Company (NWTC) has appointed P4 Planning to design a brief for the scheme and to submit a planning application to the city council.
NWTC said the refurbishment would transform the dated, vacant and now derelict appearance of the pub, which has become something of an eyesore on the city centre’s otherwise popular canal quarter.
The James Brindley was built in the 1980s replacing a former canal side warehouse. With its canal side frontage and outdoor terrace the venue was initially popular but the development of the Mailbox and its waterfront bars lured trade away to the point where it was forced to close in 2008.
However, NWTC has said the development of Arena Central right across the road from the pub could offer the venue a new lease of life.
“The pub has been closed for eight years and its dated and abandoned appearance currently detracts significantly from the canal side location including the historic canal and listed buildings on Gas Street,” states the design brief.
“NWTC seeks planning permission for external alterations to the building and proposes to bring it back into active use as a pub/restaurant which will contribute to the regeneration of Gas Street Canal Basin as a vibrant mixed use destination in Birmingham city centre.”
It said the plan to modernise the pub’s appearance was very much in keeping with the character of the area and would use high quality reclaimed materials.
The design has been influenced by the location’s history as a commercial hub for the canal trade and commerce.
Planning and conservation officers at Birmingham City Council, together with the Canal and River Trust have already been appraised of the scheme.
The pub will be operated by NWTC, formerly part of Living Ventures. NWTC has 14 outlets across the UK currently, spread across five brands – The Botanist (including an outlet in Temple Street), The Oast House, Smugglers Cove, The Trading House and The Club House.
NWTC employs more than 900 people across it group and it has said the James Brindley scheme would create 60 full time and 30 part time jobs.
Providing planning consent is granted, the intention is to start work next March with a view to venue reopening next October.
“Overall, the proposal will rejuvenate and bring a long derelict building back into productive use, generating employment opportunities and enhancing the character of the canal basin and setting of surrounding listed buildings,” concludes the brief.
