A bid to transform a former theatre in Exeter city centre into a ‘prohibition-era’ bar has been revealed.
Bootleggers Bar has submitted plans for a change-of-use the use at the old Bike Shed Theatre, in Fore Street, so it can become a bespoke watering hole.
The small, independent company already runs similar operations in Cardiff and Bristol.
Its application to Exeter City Council say that the below-street, discreet location and historic atmosphere of the building is a perfect venue in which to create its third bar.
A dozen new jobs would be created and the blueprints say the premises will include the main bar, music area and a gin bar.
It will not be tied to any one brewery and will aim to showcase the best of local beers and spirits.
The bar would also provide local musicians with a venue in which to casually perform with the ‘prohibition vibe’.
The application states: “The lower ground floors are situated below the successful retail unit that is The Bike Shed, but has historically been used for food and drink and entertainment uses.
“It has no street frontage and little natural light and does not lend itself to a retail unit, but it has the right ambience for a bar.”
The applicant has already secured a premises licence to operate the bar from from 11am – 2am, Monday to Sunday.
The planning statement concludes: “To our knowledge, the Bike Shed Theatre and bar operated for similar opening hours and did not receive complaints from nearby residents.
“The economic sustainability of development proposals is going to be particularly important as we emerge from the current national crisis.
“There will be many businesses who cannot reopen and this may leave shopping areas with empty units and no business uses immediately coming forward.
“The food and drink sector is likely to be more buoyant than the retail one as shopping habits may shift further towards on-line retailers and away from the high streets.
“Enabling the local economy to initially survive the shock and aftershocks and then recover from this exceptional Covid-19 crisis should be afforded considerable weight.
“The applicants are keen to invest in Exeter and are satisfied that their bar will be a successful enterprise which provides local employment and wider spending in the economy.”
The Bike Shed Theatre and Cocktail Bar closed in 2018.
Exeter City Council planners will determine the fate of the application at a later date.
