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Search the Public Notice Portal A new cocktail bar is set to open inside an empty city centre shop.
The application by Mockingbird Durham Ltd to convert the Silver Street site has been approved by Durham County Council.
Planning documents submitted to the local authority propose a “small-scale premium cocktail lounge operating primarily through seated table service” inside the former Body Shop store, which closed in 2024.
Redeveloping the vacant site would contribute positively to the city centre, the applicant said.
The new venue will open between 10am and 12am Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
A planning heritage statement added: “The proposal has been designed to retain the character of the building and preserve the wider historic environment of Durham City Centre.
“The application site is not a listed building; however, it lies within the Durham City Conservation Area and contributes positively to the character and appearance of the surrounding historic townscape.”
No demolition is proposed, while any internal works would take place “sensitively”. The statement adds: “The proposal does not involve any substantial external alterations to the building and seeks to retain the existing character and appearance of the commercial frontage.
Any future alterations or signage proposals would be designed sensitively with regard to the surrounding conservation area context.”
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The City of Durham Parish Council backed plans to convert the empty site, saying it would support the evening economy and retain the building’s commercial role.
However, members raised concerns about the lack of an accessible toilet at ground-floor level. It said the plans appeared to place customer toilets on the lower-ground floor, without a wheelchair-accessible facility directly accessible from the main customer area.
Durham County Council’s planning department approved the application under delegated powers.