Gloucester Quays could be set to open its biggest restaurant yet – with plans being revealed to welcome a new food and drink business to fill vacant units at the outlet.
The Quays wants permission from Gloucester City Council to change the use of empty retail units on High Orchard Street, just down from Pret A Manger on the opposite side, behind Cineworld.
Through the submission, it aims to update a plan that lays out which of its units can be used for 'leisure', to account for a new 691 sqm restaurant – which would be the biggest at the Quays.
The space, which encompasses three units earmarked for retail that have been vacant since construction, would be bigger than the former TGI Fridays unit, which is around 480 sqm and the nearby Wetherspoons, which is around 565 sqm, according to Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter.
The Quays also wants to clarify a separate planning condition which puts a limit on food and drink floorspace at the outlet.
The proposal would involve redistributing leisure floorspace allocated to the 'Numold' area of the Quays, opposite Five Guys, with no development having come forward there in 20 years since outline permission was granted.
Councillor Rebecca Trimnell, who represents the area at the city council, says she's not opposed to the change of use, as long as the new restaurant is in keeping with the surrounding area.
She told Carmelo Garcia: 'We change the use and then there is no control on what eatery establishments would be set up in these units. For instance, do we want to see another McDonald’s at this end of the city?'.
While fellow Westgate councillor Pam Tracey says the new restaurant could 'work as a bookend for the Quays'.
She said: 'It’s a bit of a dead end down there. Let’s hope it tidies that area up.'
The council planning committee is due to consider the plans by Wednesday 24 September 2025.
