Royal Nawaab submits plans for Stockport Pyramid restaurant
Vacant for the last six years, proposals to transform one of the North West’s most recognisable buildings into a 1,500-cover dining destination have been tabled.
As first revealed by Place North West in early July, Royal Nawaab plans to open a restaurant and a trio of banqueting halls within Eamar Developments’ Stockport Pyramid.
The planning application, drawn up by Cheadle-based NK Architects, proposes redeveloping the entire 86,000 sq ft building.
The scheme includes a restaurant with a capacity of 350 covers and small, medium, and large banquet halls, providing 150, 300, and 700 covers respectively.
Mahboob Hussain, founder of Royal Nawaab, said: “We are hoping to breathe much needed life into this iconic building and bring with it a significant investment and job creation into the Stockport and Greater Manchester region.
“We have received a positive reaction to our plans from local people and media. It truly is an iconic building that has put Stockport on the map. We now want to bring it back to life with a truly unforgettable dining experience for diners across Stockport, Greater Manchester and beyond.”
The restaurant business also operates out of the Hoover Building in London. However, Royal Nawaab is best known in the North West for its former Levenshulme venue, located on Stockport Road.
The site was rebranded as Merzee earlier this year after Hussain sold his stake.
Eamar Developments’ Fozia Alharby, said: “We have long been fans of the [Royal Nawaab] brand and we wanted to ensure that we brought something special to Stockport, they are the perfect fit.
“The plans for the space will offer so much more than a restaurant, it presents a destination to bring more people to Stockport.”
Eamar Developments, owned by Dr Abdullah Al Naeem, acquired the Pyramid for £4.5m in 2019 and now, four years on, the landlord is close to securing its first tenant.
Located off Junction One of the M60, Eamar’s Stockport Pyramid has a chequered history and laid empty for several years after its completion, following the collapse of the scheme’s original developers.
The Co-operative, which also funded the project, took control of the building in the hopes of finding a tenant, before moving in itself in 1995.
The building has been empty since 2017 after the bank moved its operations to NOMA in Manchester.
To learn more about Ryal Nawaab’s plans, search for application number DC/089342 on Stockport Council’s planning portal.
The thing about the Stockport Pyramid is that it isn’t a pyramid but, rather, a ziggurat.
By Anonymous
Welcomed repurposing. Would like to see pictures as I’m nosy.
By Tom
It will be a Great place to visit an iconic building along with the iconic Restaurant in it Wishing best of luck to the owners
By Asad
Whilst I admire the ambition, this is a white elephant.
By MacDopel
With all the competition I would not have expected for this venture to be viable.But as long as the Owners are paying full and not subsidised commercial Council tax to Stockport MBC it is better than the building being left empty.
By Paul griffiths
I can’t wait for my first jalfrezi in that wonderful iconic building.
By Pablo
I think it will be good for Stockport cannot wait
By Ian
I agree with Anonymous (2.52pm) it is a ziggurat not a pyramid.
By Anonymous
8th wonder of the world
By Levelling Up Manager
It seems a nice idea but I worry about the business rates on such a property, I’ve seen several restaurants fail after they take on properties and unaware of the costs involved
By Jon
Would be great if they ask for it to be made into an actual Pyramid as part of the planning application! Lovely repurposing of the building though!
By Anonymous
It’s a shame when people try to be clever, but they are indeed incorrect. Whilst it maybe considered a ziggurat, it is still pyramidical and therefore still a pyramid.
By Anon
An iconic venue for shows, weddings and parties will bring more jobs in hospitality sector to this landmark. Stick a globe sphere on the top and it will light up the night sky, woohoo!
By Anonymous
Nobody wants to eat with 1500 other people. Doomed before it even starts.
By Patrick Symmond
Not iconic and not a Pyramid
By Anon