Plans for new bar in ‘Freedom Quarter’ are taking next step
AIM TO CREATE A SPACE FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
PLANS to convert a former café into a bar as part of efforts to create a Hull city centre LGBTQ+ quarter have taken their next steps.
Hull City Council’s Licensing Committee approved the licence application from the owners of Monroe’s Bar for 49 Savile Street, formerly J-jay’s café. Bar co-owner Michael Roper said the application and another approved in the same street were part of efforts to create an area for the LGBTQ+ community.
It comes as a planning application has also been lodged for the conversion of the former café which is opposite Monroe’s. It is in a Grade Ii-listed row of buildings in Savile Street, which is currently home to a mixture of shops, bars and cafés.
Mr Roper said the new bar, set to be known as Unit 49, would help transform the street along with
Cherry’s Bar which was also granted a licence.
He added his and other venues on the street were looking to build up their Freedom Quarter, a space for the LGBTQ+ community that the bar owner said Hull lacked.
Mr Roper said: “Me and the coowner of Monroe’s Bradley have both been in bars for absolutely ages and we’ve travelled around a bit and noticed there isn’t really one safe space for LGBTQ+ people in Hull like there is in other places. There are other venues for the community but they’re scattered around across the city.
“We thought we’ve got Monroe’s which is a safe space in itself already and decided to expand on that and create a place down here for everyone in the community in Hull.
“There’s five bars in total down this street which are on board and the other businesses down here all support it, they’re happy with it.
“Unit 49 will have a low light industrial vibe to it, there’ll be background music on but it won’t be a crazy party place. We have the option to do food there as well, we’ve thought about trying Sunday dinners and if it goes well we might expand that.
“It’ll be low light but high end, it’s going to be more of a wind down place with relaxed vibes.
“We serve premium products at affordable prices, it really is possible to do that.
“Savile Street’s got a few family businesses on it but, other than the established ones, they tend to come and go, both Hull FC and Kingston Rovers had shops here that have gone now. So we’re hoping our plans will bring more people down to the street.
“The bar’s about 70 per cent of the way there, we’ve got the planning application to do now.
“We’re hoping to open in June or July, hopefully in time for Pride in late July.”