Nottingham is hardly struggling for somewhere to get a drink, but a rooftop terrace overlooking Old Market Square? Now you’ve got our attention.
Plans have officially been submitted to transform part of Market Square House into a new rooftop bar and restaurant, complete with terraces looking out over the heart of Nottingham city centre.
The proposals cover the prominent building at 1-7 St James’s Street, on the corner of Beast Market Hill and overlooking Old Market Square.
And the big attraction is undoubtedly upstairs.
The building’s currently inaccessible third-floor roof would be turned into a new food and drink destination, with a glazed extension, outdoor terrace and a bar created inside an existing rooftop structure.
Large bi-folding glass doors would allow the hospitality space to spill out onto the terrace, potentially giving drinkers and diners one of the more impressive city-centre views in Nottingham.
So, what exactly is planned?
The scheme would see a new glass-fronted extension wrapped around the bottom of Market Square House’s tower, opening directly onto the new public terrace.
An existing disused plant structure would meanwhile be given a considerably more exciting second life as the bar.
There would also be another terrace one floor higher, at fourth-floor level, although that’s principally intended as outdoor space for people working in the building rather than somewhere for the rest of us to sink a Friday-night pint.
The proposals form part of a wider attempt to breathe some life back into Market Square House.
Despite occupying prime city-centre real estate, substantial parts of the building have been vacant or underused for years, with planning documents describing its office accommodation as “largely inactive and vacant”.
The scheme would also overhaul the way people get into the building.
Its existing upper-floor entrance on St James’s Street is currently boarded up. Under the new plans, the main entrance would instead be moved to line up with the shopfronts on Beast Market Hill.
Inside, a full-height atrium containing stairs and a lift would link the lower floors with the proposed third-floor restaurant, bar and terrace.
Planning documents say: “The proposals represent a considered opportunity to bring Market Square House back into active use, unlocking the potential of its lower floors and underused podium roof while retaining the established character and identity of the building.”
And yes, it could stay open late
No operator has been revealed yet, so there’s no word on exactly what sort of restaurant or bar could eventually move in.
What we do know is that late-night opening is anticipated.
Before anyone starts imagining a rooftop superclub towering above the Council House, though, the application is quite clear: this isn’t supposed to become a nightclub.
The plans describe the proposed venue as a “high-quality food, beverage and hospitality offer”, centred around dining, drinking and socialising rather than high-intensity entertainment.
Exactly how many people it could hold, what music would be played and how the venue would operate will depend on whoever eventually takes it on.
What would it look like?
Given that Market Square House sits within the Market Square Conservation Area, sticking a shiny new bar and terrace on its roof was never going to be quite as straightforward as putting out some tables and ordering a few parasols.
The scheme, designed by DYAD, uses steel and floor-to-ceiling glazing for the extension, while frameless glass balustrades would surround the terrace.
The planning documents argue that the new additions have deliberately been designed to play second fiddle to the existing tower and minimise their effect on the surrounding historic cityscape.
Developers also reckon bringing the largely underused parts of the building back to life could generate more activity and footfall around Old Market Square.
The final decision now rests with Nottingham City Council.
But if it gets the green light, Nottingham could eventually gain something its city centre is surprisingly short of: a proper rooftop drinking spot slap bang in the middle of town.
And we’ll raise a glass to that.
