January 11, 2018 3.56 pm This story is over 74 months old

Restaurant transformation could secure the future of Lincoln Ruddocks store

A restaurant on the site would create 20 jobs.
Ruddocks of Lincoln

Plans to turn the iconic former Ruddocks shop on Lincoln High Street into a vibrant new restaurant space could soon bring the building back to life.

A change of use application has been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council by owner Henry Ruddock, who hopes to attract a restaurant or cafe business to the city centre building.

The former stationery store officially closed on April 1, 2017.

The Grade II listed building has been on the market for six months, and many of the prospective tenants have indicated they are interested in the space as a restaurant.

Henry Ruddock, owner of the former Ruddocks of Lincoln building.

Henry Ruddock told The Lincolnite: “Since the store closed in April it has been available and one of the options is to open it as a restaurant. We thought it would speed up the process if we said we already had clearance for that option.

“It is in a central location in a nice historic part of Lincoln and the building lends itself to a lovely atmosphere.

“The area and the building are fantastic.

“I hope we can get something settled in the future and it would nice to see the building brought back to life.”

Members of the planning committee at City of Lincoln Council will discuss plans at a later date.

The application states: “The majority of the interest and proposals that have been received for the property have come from the restaurant sector and the applicant has been advised by his property agent that a change of use-class should be sought to suit the use of the most likely future tenant; in order to secure an occupier for the property and to bring it back into use.”

A restaurant on the site is expected to create five full-time and 15 part-time jobs in the area.

As part of the application, plans have also been submitted for the removal of the central staircase on the ground floor