£1m Rat and Parrot project approved

PLANNERS have approved plans to develop the site of the former Rat & Parrot pub in Queen Square, Liverpool.

Neptune Investments, the developers behind Queen Square and the regeneration of New Brighton, will transform the derelect pub into a number of new leisure units with a £1m facelift.

DK-Architects has been appointed for the scheme, and its design which add an eye-catching facade to the building with perforated aluminium cladding and a new glazing system. LED lighting will also be incorporated to cast dramatic effects over Queen Square at night.

The plans say the 14,500 sq ft building will be home to a mix of leisure units on the lower level, with the top two floors occupied by a restaurant/bar with an outdoor rooftop terrace which will complement the current restaurants already operating in Queen Square.

Neptune is aiming to start on site imminently and is already in negotiations with prospective tenants.

Daniel Hynd, of Neptune Investments, says: “It’s great that we have secured planning for the dramatic changes to the former Rat and Parrot building.

“We’ve already had a lot of interest from some fantastic international operators for the newly formed units and hope to be in a position to announce some names in the next couple of months.

“The building has become an eyesore on what is a very prominent corner at one of Liverpool’s busiest transport hubs, so we were keen to regain control of the building to give it a face lift. The plans will transform the building and will enhance the rest of the Queen square estate.

“We want to get on site as soon as possible to start work, so we can get tenants in and operating hopefully prior to Christmas.”

The development coincides with a number of schemes that are currently onsite in the area, including the conversion of Millennium House into the Shankly Hotel, the refurbishment and extension to the Royal Court theatre and the ongoing plans to modernise St John’s Shopping Centre and St John’s Market.