‘Village cricket pavilion pottiness’ - Councillors to decide on restaurant bid next week
The former NatWest on London Street, Norwich, which could become a Cosy Club restaurant. Picture: David Hannant - Credit: Archant
Councillors will decide next week if a former bank in the city centre can be turned into a new 1930s-themed restaurant.
Bar and restaurant chain Cosy Club, which describes itself as 'aristocratic abundance with a dash of local village cricket pavilion pottiness', lodged an application in May for the former NatWest bank on London Street in Norwich.
The application will go before members of the city council's planning committee next week, with officers recommending the proposal for approval.
The chain, which has more than 20 branches nationwide, offers items such as burgers, breakfasts and tapas on its menu, and is looking to make use of the now disused bank.
The building ceased to be a bank when NatWest closed the branch last year in favour of a new location on Gentleman's Walk.
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The building is a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1920s, however council officers have judged the only proposed external change - an installation of a wheelchair ramp - to be acceptable.
In her report, Katherine Brumpton, the council's case officer for the application, noted that the ramp is also unlikely to impact a protected whitebeam tree, which stands in front of the building.
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With the application recommended for approval, the chain's team are confident the plans will get the go ahead.
Amber Wood, marketing director of Cosy Club, said: 'We're really looking forward to unveiling our newest Cost Club in Norwich in 2019.
'Keep watching for further updates as the plans progress.'
While the venue is touted to offer alcohol, the design and access statement submitted with the application says it would not be geared towards 'vertical drinking'.
It says: 'The Cosy Club will be open throughout the day and into the evening, will be food-led and will have particular appeal to families - 'vertical drinking' is not encouraged.'
The restaurant would be Norfolk's first branch of the chain - with its nearest site located in the Buttermarket Shopping Centre in Ipswich.
If members of Norwich City Council's planning committee approve the plans at the meeting next Thursday, October 11, it would also see permission granted for a new ventilation system to be installed in the building.
