MORE details have been unveiled for the planned pop-up restaurant in the heart of Clifton Village.
Speare Developments, theowners of the former WHSmith site, are working on a scheme for what is called a “meanwhile use” for the land while they develop their long term plans for it.
They say the restaurant will be inside a stretched tent marquee, no more than one storey high. It will occasionally be used for workshops, demos or as a community space when needed.
A kitchen inside a shipping container will be linked to the restaurant area, which will have seating for up to 150 people.
A cellar with a bar attached will be inside another shipping container.
There will also be space on the site for trestle tables and gazebos to form a shopping market. When the market is not operating the gazebos and tables will be taken down and stored in containers.
The restaurant and the market will be managed by the same tenant, who has not yet been officially named, although Clifton Ward Councillors Paula O’Rourke and Jerome Thomas say that Speare Developments are working with renowned chef Josh Eggleton.
“The specific type of tent is yet to be confirmed due to availability when the application is approved and construction can begin. The design proposes a stretch tent marquee across most of the site, but not all.
“The timescale of construction largely depends on when and if planning consent is granted by the city council but Speare Developments are keen to open the site and for it to be active again, not fenced off and forgotten.”
The kitchen and bar, being front facing and visible from the surrounding streets, will be cladded in timber and metal cladding.
The site will be landscaped with raised timber planters containing a variety of plants.
The metal railing design around the site has been inspired from the heritage railings around Clifton Village such as along the perimeter of the Mall Gardens. These will provide the main secure boundary treatment around the site.
WH Smith closed in 2010 and the site has remained unused other than for a temporary ice rink in 2014.
The eyesore site is now covered in weeds, shrubs and bushes and is surrounded by hoardings.