British Land and Aviva Investors, joint owners of the SouthGate shopping centre, have announced plans to create a new food quarter at the centre to further enhance Bath’s growing reputation as the foodie capital of the South West.
Under the plans, submitted this week to Bath & North East Somerset Council, the current Little SouthGate section of the centre would be redeveloped to make way for three to four new upmarket restaurants and bars that will complement the existing food area at The Vaults, which is located in Brunel’s original railway arches.
Restaurants including Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Prezzo and Graze have made The Vaults at SouthGate a popular dining destination and plans for the new food quarter have already generated substantial interest from high end food and drink operators which are eyeing the opportunity to open in Bath for the first time.
New glazed facades on Newark Street and St Lawrence Street would be created along with new steel and glass canopies to provide covered outdoor seating areas for diners.
Little SouthGate’s change of use from its current nine small retail units to restaurants is also expected to help attract more people to Bath and boost the vitality of the city centre.
Existing retail tenants at Little SouthGate have been consulted over the plans and Aviva Investors is working to relocate them to other parts of the centre where possible.
Lauren Obbard of British Land said: “These exciting plans will significantly extend the broad appeal of SouthGate by giving shoppers new innovative dining options right at the heart of Bath city centre and will complement the existing restaurants and bars at The Vaults.”
Simon Green of Aviva Investors, said: “We are in discussions with a number of premium restaurant operators who have expressed interest in opening at SouthGate as their first venture in the South West.
“Our designs for the new restaurant area have been created to preserve the architectural appeal of the centre and reflect the heritage of Bath city centre.”
The plans have the support of existing Little SouthGate tenant My Small World.
The retailer’s owner Dawn Burden, said: “The landlords have been open with us for many months about their future plans, and we have been heartened by the sense of responsibility they have felt towards the centre’s independent retailers.
“With the help and support of the landlords we will be moving to a unit just one minute away from our current store, in a far more prominent location.”
