Proposals forming for future of Mark Addy

Plans for the reopening of a restaurant on the site of Salford’s Mark Addy pub, which closed a year ago due to extensive flood damage, are set to be progressed in 2017 by owner Elle R Leisure.

Elle R Leisure, the owner of Castlefield’s Dukes 92 and the Albert’s restaurants, is in the process of appointing architects for the site. The company is understood to be in negotiations with English Cities Fund to take over a plot currently used as a car park for New Bailey, in order to build a restaurant unit on street level.

The restaurant is expected to be similar in style to Albert’s, which Elle R Leisure operates in Manchester’s Castlefield and Didsbury.

The Mark Addy suffered around £200,000 of damage when the River Irwell burst its banks after an exceptional level of rainfall last Boxing Day. Both the outside terrace and the internal bar area were covered in several feet of water, which left behind a thick layer of sediment.

The popular venue was vulnerable to flooding as it was built on the site of a former boat landing stage, first opened in 1980.

Due to the extent of the damage, former operator Allen Caldwell relinquished his lease earlier this year, and the venue remained closed, with many saying it was unlikely to open again.

Under Elle R Leisure’s new plans, access to the terrace would be retained, however nothing integral to the operation of the restaurant would be installed at river level, due to future flood risk.

Elle R Leisure has been contacted for comment.