Cafè bar chain set to be the latest addition to the Buttermarket
A cafè bar chain is on its way to Newark as part of a proposal to redevelop the Buttermarket.
Newark and Sherwood District Council is in advanced negotiations with a popular national chain that has a penchant for historical buildings to become, subject to planning consent, the tenant of a new-look and revitalised town centre building.
The application will be discussed at Newark Town Council’s planning committee tonight (September 4).
A spokesman for Lounges, whose nearest venues to Newark are in West Bridgford, Mansfield and Grantham, said: “We hope that the Buttermarket presents an exciting opportunity for us to bring a Lounge to the community of Newark, subject to negotiation and planning approval.
“Lounges are neighbourhood café bars, providing delicious food and drinks all day long and committed to community engagement through charity fundraising, local events and group activities.
“Each Lounge is named individually, usually with a nod or reference to the area it’s in.”
Loungers was founded in 2002 by a trio of long-standing friends, Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop.
Having spent years in the restaurant and bar trade, they decided it was time they did their own thing. An empty opticians on North Street, Bristol, was their first venue.
Cosy Club, an off-shoot of Loungers, is in the Lincoln Corn Exchange.
Newark and Sherwood District Council has applied to itself for consent for alterations and conversion of units 4, 9, 10 and 11 to form a single unit, which would pave the way for Lounges, as well as permission for using the Buttermarket for shop, business and leisure purposes.
Units 4, 9, 10 and 11 form the section to the left if walking through the Buttermarket from Middlegate to Chain Lane.
Listed Building Consent is also needed because the building, which was opened in 1884, is conjoined with Newark Town Hall and is listed and of historical importance.
The Grade 1 listed building, which also comprises the former Royal Exchange, was bought by Newark and Sherwood District Council and Newark Town Council for £800,000 before it could be sold at auction, and is managed by them. The purchase completed in February.
It had become largely vacant with many previous traders blaming spiralling rents and inactivity from the previous owners.
Both councils regard the iconic buildings as playing a major and strategic role in boosting the town’s retail, cultural and leisure offer.
Since then, they have worked with independent traders to help organise pop-up shops for between three and six months, until a long-term plan was fixed.
The district council said: “Newark and Sherwood District Council can confirm that it is in negotiation with a popular national restaurant/bar chain which has expressed an interest in the Buttermarket.
“The proposed tenant would be new to the town, offering something different for residents and visitors.
“There are a number of existing retail licences for the current Buttermarket units that were issued on a short-term basis while the long-term plans for the building were being considered.
“These tenancies have been a great success and local traders have been instrumental in breathing life back into the building.”
Guy Taylor Associates has been commissioned by the council to conduct a Heritage Impact Assessment of the council’s planning application.
In its conclusion, the Newark-based firm said: “We believe the proposals will aim to preserve and enhance the historic fabric and, in many cases, revert back to its original design by the removal of modern partitions.”
The Buttermarket was originally built as a large-spanned cast iron frame structure to accommodate free arrangement of space and trade activity.
During the 1980s restoration, a row of shops were introduced into the smaller wings on either side of the building and a mezzanine gallery was added with shops on each side.
