Starbucks has submitted plans to open a coffee shop in Nottingham’s historic Exchange Arcade.
The proposed store would occupy Unit 3, the former Patisserie Valerie premises, which has entrances from Smithy Row and the internal arcade close to Old Market Square.
Applications for listed building consent and advertisement consent have been prepared because the unit forms part of the Grade II*-listed Council House, Exchange Buildings and adjoining shops and bank.
The proposals have not yet been approved and will require consent before the planned alterations and signs can be installed.
Documents submitted in support of the applications show that the coffee shop would have 28 seats inside, along with a service counter, merchandise displays, a condiment area and an accessible toilet. No outdoor seating is proposed.
Customer areas would be concentrated on the ground floor, while parts of the basement would be used for storage, staff facilities, services and other back-of-house functions.
The existing shopfront framework would be retained, although Starbucks wants to repaint the blue framing and fascia panels in a dark grey finish.
New branding would include lettering across the fascia, a projecting logo sign on the Smithy Row elevation and a suspended logo disc facing the Exchange Arcade. Vinyl graphics would also be applied to the inside of the windows.
The Exchange Arcade forms part of Nottingham’s Council House and Exchange Buildings complex and contains a mixture of shops, cafés and commercial premises. The unit’s previous use by Patisserie Valerie means the proposals would continue an established café-type use at the site.
Arrangements for deliveries, servicing and waste have not been detailed in the statement and would be agreed with the landlord and operator using the Exchange’s existing management arrangements.
The design and heritage statement, prepared by Architecture Design Limited on behalf of Starbucks, argues that the alterations would be limited and largely reversible and would preserve the architectural and historic interest of the listed building.
Nottingham City Council will determine whether the proposed alterations and advertisements are acceptable as part of the consent process.
