Outdoor area approved for Flower Café in Sunderland's Keel Square

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has approved an application for Flower Café, the fourth and final operator for the units beneath Holiday Inn in Keel Square.

Already established in Newcastle and Alnwick, Flower Café is primed to open the unit in the development facing High Street West, joining The Botanist, Keel Tavern and the soon-to-open Muddler.

A planning application for signage, submitted by the cafe’s owners Sayturk Group Ltd and now approved, showed a CGI of a floral exterior and pavement seating, in keeping with the other venues in the region.

The venue is described as featuring ‘an eccentric mix of global design accents, centred around a playful floral influence’ and will offer a continental style service from breakfast to late nights, and a menu of cocktails, beers, patisserie, gourmet sandwiches, sweet treats, gelato ice creams and healthy options.

CGI images have previously been released showing how the Sunderland Flower Café interiors will look, courtesy of designers Pulp Studios Design House.

An advertising consent application for the development and its signature signage with “floral foliage” was approved by council planning officials last month (August 2024).

The latest update on the development includes approval for an outdoor seating area, bringing the Flower Café another step closer to becoming a reality.

Sunderland City Council’s planning department approved the plans on September 19, 2024, which included the “change of use of open space to [an] enclosed pavement café to front”.

Other works included “freestanding awning and alterations to [the] existing building”, including installing condenser units to the main building’s roof.

The proposed layout for the outdoor area includes tables and seats for around 46 covers looking out towards the new Culture House site, as well as around 113 covers inside.

Sunderland City Council’s planning department, in a decision report, said the outdoor seating area would contribute to the aims of Riverside Sunderland, which includes the regeneration of the former Vaux site, Sheepfolds area and part of the city centre.

One aim of the Riverside Sunderland plan includes establishing the area as a “successful business location, a popular place to live and a focal point for civic, cultural and community life”.

As part of the planning permission for the outdoor area, restrictions were added via planning conditions to control its use.

This included any outdoor speakers being used for “background music only” and the outdoor area “only being open for trading from 10am to 10pm”.

The council decision report adds: “The submitted details show that the site would be bounded by maroon powder coated mild steel planters with red tables and blue/cream chairs inside.

“The awning would be blue and is of a size and scale that would appear appropriate in an outdoor seating area of this type.

“The overall appearance of the proposed development would be a lightweight outdoor area between the substantial hotel building and the open space to the front”.

Given the site’s close proximity to listed buildings, including the Magistrates’ Court and the Peacock public house, the council’s conservation officer was consulted but raised no objections.

Council planners concluded that the “proposals will have no negative impact on the adjacent conservation area or listed buildings” and that “the significance of these heritage assets will therefore be conserved”.

It is hoped that the food and drink venue will open later this year, and the development is expected to create 20 new jobs.

More information about the Flower Café planning application can be found via Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website by searching reference: 24/01253/FU4