Luxury Italian restaurant scheme revealed for former Wolverhampton bar
A former nightclub could be turned into a luxury Italian restaurant under new plans, which have been unveiled.
Mal Namakshenas wants to transform the former Moscow Bar in Darlington Street, Wolverhampton, into a 60-seat restaurant – potentially creating up to 10 jobs.
Mr Mal, who has worked in the trade for around 30 years, said the new Zizi restaurant would be a high-end family venue, which he hoped would revitalise an ailing area of the city.
Families
He said the new business would have nothing in common with the old bar.
"It won't be a bar or a club or anything like that," said the 53-year-old from Birmingham Road, Walsall.
"It will be a place where a family can come to have a nice meal.
"I'm a chef, and I have worked in the catering trade for around 30 years.
"We chose the location because it is a gateway to the city, with parking nearby.
"There are few empty buildings in Darlington Street, so hopefully we will attract more shops to come into that area."
The building lies in Wolverhampton's Cumulative Impact Zone, where premises will only be granted late-night licences if they can prove they will not add to problems with the consumption of alcohol in the area.
The proposals will go before Wolverhampton's licensing sub-committee tomorrow. Before its closure just over five years ago, concerns were raised about problems at The Moscow Bar.
In 2008 a police report on the venue revealed there had been a number of incidents there. In the most serious incident, a man was stabbed in a nearby car park following a major disturbance at the club.
The owner at the time admitted the bar was 'not the sort of place you'd take your girlfriend.'
Other incidents included a brawl between 20 men armed with knives, gang members charging the doors, and two assaults which had left revellers with injuries.
And in 2006, when the venue was known as Bar S2, a man was taken to hospital after being shot inside the premises.
Conditions
Licensing officer Sgt Adrian Reeves said he had met with Mr Mal who had agreed to a list of conditions which would help prevent any problems, should the licence be granted.
Andrew Clarke, speaking on behalf of Wolverhampton Council's environmental health department, said there would be no objections provided the conditions outlined by police would be adhered to.
Earlier this month the council granted planning permission for a basement restaurant also in Darlington Street.
Permission was granted for an eating place to open at the former Pickwick's restaurant next to Beatties.
