Northgate restaurant prelet agreed
Restaurant group Cosy Club intends to open its third outlet in the North West after agreeing terms with Cheshire West & Chester Council and development advisor Rivington Land to take space in the first phase of the Chester Northgate development, although finance to build the £300m project has yet to be secured.
The 180-cover Cosy Club restaurant will occupy 5,500 sq ft in the Hunter’s Walk arcade to be formed from the old library, linking Town Hall Square with a new public space in front of the relocated market and anchor prelet Picturehouse cinema.
Cosy Club’s unit on ground and first floor levels will face onto Town Hall Square close to Chester Cathedral and the newly opened cultural centre, Storyhouse, the council’s £37m theatre, library and arts cinema.
Charlie Seward, deputy chief executive of places at Cheshire West & Chester Council, said: “This is another big step towards the Northgate development, on the day Chester’s new Bus Interchange opens to all passengers for the first time.
“Chester Library moving into the fabulous Storyhouse and the Town Hall bus exchange relocation are both significant elements of our investment in a vibrant Chester.”
David Lewis, executive director of Rivington Land, the council’s development manager, said: “Securing Cosy Club is another great example of how Chester Northgate will attract many new brands to the city centre and thereby enhance its vitality and long-term sustainability.”
Cosy Club has taken the unit on a 15-year lease. The brand is operated by Loungers, who also own the Lounge neighbourhood café-bars. There are 20 Cosy Club restaurants across the country including York, Manchester, Liverpool, Bath, Exeter and Cheltenham.
Cosy Club will offer breakfasts, coffees and lunches before morphing into a restaurant-bar for evening trade. The restaurant is expected to open during 2018.
Anchored by a 100,000 sqft House of Fraser department store and a six-screen Picturehouse cinema, the £300m Chester Northgate development is set to provide a range of 50 new shops and major stores, around 15 new cafés and restaurants, a 4-star Crowne Plaza hotel & conference centre, the city’s largest car park and up to 70 homes.
JLL is the leasing agent acting for Chester Northgate.
