A Norwich businessman is planning to run the Panda Bar which closed earlier this year because of “crippling rates.”
Jon Hook, who is managing director of Norwich Accountancy Services, is hoping, subject to getting approval for a licence, to reopen the venue in Redwell Street by October as a cocktail bar. He also said it will serve tapas-style food.
MORE: New £750,000 food store offers cheap Greggs sausage rolls
It marks the second new business for Mr Hook who earlier this week announced he and his wife Jodie were taking over the former Tea House in Wright’s Court, Elm Hill. This tearoom also closed earlier this year and Mrs Hook is going to be running the venue serving home-made lunches and afternoon teas.
The Panda bar closed back in January with its owners launching an appeal to lower the business rates.
Mr Hook said the business rates had now been reduced from around £60,000 a year to £40,000 and he was bidding for a further reduction.
The bar had been available for rental with agents Christie & Co which had stated it could take up to two years to find a new tenant.
Mr Hook has now made an application to Norwich City Council for a licence and is awaiting the outcome. He told this newspaper: “The hope is to get the ground floor and basement open for the build-up for Christmas. It shut back in January because of excessive business rates.
“The key thing is to ensure success with the venture which will be a cocktail bar and serving of food but more tapas, oysters, prawns, not full-on meals.
“We have a plan to resurrect this Fine City so please come and support us.”
After the owners of the building put it up for rental, they said at the time they were hoping for an independent leaseholder rather than a chain.
The bar, previously popular as a place for a glass of prosecco after work, opened in September 2018, replacing the Norwich Tap House which closed in January, 2018. At the time of closure, a statement issued on behalf of the Sheena Ann Turner Will Trust, the landlord of Panda Bar, blamed warm weather favouring pubs with gardens as well as a ‘massive’ increase in rates ‘making profit impossible.’
Mr Hook, who hails from Australia, has worked in accountancy for the last 23 years specialising in revenue law and previously worked in the taxation division at Coopers & Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers) before setting up his own business.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here