Sushi cafe to replace city shop
KOKOTO TAKES OVER PHONE SHOP
A SUSHI restaurant will soon take the place of a shop in Nottingham city centre.
The Phone Clinic, in Exchange Walk, will be replaced by a Kokoro restaurant after Nottingham City Council approved plans last week.
Kokoro is a Korean/japanese restaurant founded in the UK more than a decade ago.
The shop will be refitted to form a new sushi and bento cafe takeaway with high seating at the front, looking out through a redecorated shopfront.
According to a report to councillors, the focal point will be a glassfronted counter serving and showing “freshly prepared sushi on chilled displays”. There will also be a hot food display in the counter with a variety of freshly prepared food displayed.
Environmental health officers concluded that because there were no homes nearby, noise was not considered an issue. They also found it “unreasonable” to restrict opening hours as nearby businesses were not restricted and there were no nearby homes.
The existing shopfront and its pillars will be retained, which officers thought would “enhance the appearance of the Conservation Area”.
A planning report said: “The neighbouring buildings are all commercial properties and there are no residential properties adjoining the site on all sides. Given the site is located within the city centre, it is considered the takeaway aspect of the cafe would not have a harmful impact on neighbour amenity.
“A preoccupation condition will be included to require evidence the submitted ventilation scheme has been installed. Given there are no residential properties facing the rear yard, it is considered the three AC units on the rear elevation would not impact neighbour amenity.”
The Kokoro franchise has more than 50 UK branches. Kokoro’s website says: “Customers flock to eat our hearty soups and scrumptious sushi. Our focus on quality service, supported by the use of fresh ingredients and environmentally conscious packaging, ensures we meet the needs of the modern customer.
“Kokoro in Japanese translates to heart, mind or soul.
“These are the most important ingredients in Kokoro’s food. The key to success is very simple – you keep the food tasty, fresh, and healthy.”