This Newcastle Quayside building is set for a ‘luxury’ makeover

A new boutique hotel and restaurant looks set to arrive on the Newcastle Quayside, after winning the backing of city planners.

The team behind the trendy Cow Hollow Hotel in Manchester’s Northern Quarter have won permission to launch a new venture on Tyneside, taking over a historic building that has lain empty for several years.

Under proposals approved by Newcastle City Council this week, the grade II listed Eldon Chambers building on the Quayside is finally in line for a long-awaited overhaul.

The former law offices, which have been vacant since 2016, will be converted into a 26-bedroom hotel, with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor.

Granting planning permission for the redevelopment on Wednesday, the city council said that the hotel project would “protect the building’s historic significance”.

Approval had previously been granted in 2016 to convert the building, which dates back to 1833 and began life as a merchant traders’ office, into a hotel, but the transformation never went ahead and the permission lapsed.

But it now seems to finally be set for a new lease of life, with the Cow Hollow developers promising a “total refurbishment” that will give future guests a “more luxury stay” than the major hotel brands already on the Quayside.

The hotel will have 13 premium rooms on its first and second floors, with 10 further executive suites on the third floor.

In the application lodged with the city council, Newcastle design firm Collective Design said the regeneration would “allow for the public to view the beauty of this listed building and add to the cultural and social needs of the Quayside area”.

The application added: “The proposed building is grade II listed and has lain vacant for many years. The introduction of this venue will enhance the area, create jobs, and develop a sustainable business. This development will complement the other facilities already on offer as the design takes into consideration the historic elements of the site to ensure the scheme maintains all listed qualities.

“The proposal looks at a change of use and total refurbishment of the building. The exterior is to be untouched aside from signage and repairs in line with listed building policy. A bar and restaurant with back of house amenities is proposed on the ground floor, and hotel suites on subsequent floors. This reconfiguration as indicated in the drawings proposes to fully retain the decorative features of the building.”