Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
Any latest spin/fudge/news/progress re the above?
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
In a word, no. Still sprouting buddleia galore though.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Andrew
Weatherspoons do have a very exciting (and quality which Dover needs) plan for this site.
The Dover Society were consulted by the Architect for Weatherspoons because they were aware of its historical importance although not a listed building but it is in a Conservation Area.
The Granada opened on the 8th January 1930 (publicity stated it seated 2,000 although it was nearer 1,700),the architect was Russian born Theodore Komisarjevsky who went on to design many Granada Cinemas, Dover was either his first or certainly one of his first cinemas for Granada.
Its original interior was stunning, indeed a similar former Granada Cinema in Tooting is a Grade 1 listed building...Only our Castle in Dover has this level of listing.
Within Weatherspoons plan is to restore the interior and it was for this reason the Dover Society have been contacted and supplied as much information as possible of the cinema in its "glory days". I am not privy to who else with historical archives they may have contacted.
As it was at a early stage of planning we have been requested not to disclose details. Weatherspoon are in discussion at DDC and I hope DDC do not delay matters as if the plan comes to fruition it will be another step in the right direction for the regeneration that Dover needs, as well as getting rid of the buddleia garden that Peter makes reference to.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
may be a bulldozer might get things moving.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
unfortunately whetherspoons seem to come up with a grandiose scheme whenever they are pressed to do something about the eyesore.
i have absolutely no confidence in any plan they come up wth.
Which number plan is this? #57?
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
yes bern
i walked past the ugly site recently
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Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
If they had sense they are waiting for DTIZ to kickstart and then start work, without it there is no need for them to do anything...
Been nice knowing you :)
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
to true
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Seems a bit bizarre for Wetherspoons to have two large properties within a minute's walk of each other. Can we really see them pump huge amounts of money into rebuilding a new property when they already have a profitable site next door, and during a recession? Sorry, very sceptical about this, it sounds like Wetherspoons are making the right sounds to the authorities for their own reasons. If they do open, we might just be trading one empty property for another if the current pub closes in preference.
Although sick of the sight of Snoops as it is, I've got mixed feeling about this - isn't the opening of another corporate chain pub another nail in the coffin of the small locals many of whom are struggling to survive as it is? Check this thread in two years - Snoops will look the same, and Wetherspoons will be 'planning'. Sounds familiar doesn't it?
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
phil,dont dispair its a living garden building.so enviromently friedly.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Wetherspoons last plans were excellent in my opinion. They included two floors of bar/restaurant including a mezzanine plus three floors of flats including a luxury penthouse. The main entrance was to be on the corner of Dolphin Passage and Dolphin Lane, hence the withdrawal of ASDA from the DTIZ scuppered the idea and they withdrew the planning application. Their proposals retained and restored the art deco frontage and preserved the internal staircase which is of historical interest. The premises were intended to become a Lloyds No 1 bar which is Wetherspoons upmarket brand. Hopefully when the new DTIZ proposals go in, Wetherspoons will resubmit their application.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Agree, but at the moment it 'faces' an empty concrete carpark so they will be waiting for that to come down !!
Will be nice to see DDC get rid of that as it is unused but I believe has contracts that tie in with the hotel/Burlington House.....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Yes Paul and that's why they withdrew. And then there's the asbestos in the place.....
But today work has actually started on clearing the bomb site behind us of years of overgrown vegetation and a huge pile of other rubbish which the JCB has rounded up.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
peter
it was a great plan they had for the place
an i hope they were sincere
and hope still they can brighten the place up while we wait
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i thought that the plan was just a fudge to keep us off of their backs when masonry was falling off of the building?
i remember when nigel urged us all to write to the owners expressing our displeasure at the state of the building, many of us did.
no replies.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
they hasd good plans i saw them
will we ever know they were a fudge or not?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Rather substantial staffolding going up today, wonder what is happening.......
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
went past there about half an hour ago and there was a truck marked "dover demolition" around the back.
i am sure we would have heard if any substantial work had been planned.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Perhaps they are doing what was originally planned (and I think they had planning permission for?) and demolishing the rear section to leave the Art Deco fascade ??
Been nice knowing you :)
Been nice knowing you :)