Using some of the significant space previously used by department store Tyrrell and Green above the former Old Fat Cat – now the Frog & Parrot – pub in Above Bar for much needed community art space is currently being mooted.
Image of Tyrell & Green under CC by Steve9091

 

The three floors above the pub were last used for offices and ancillary facilities, including a staff canteen and boardroom, for the old Tyrrell & Green store before it moved to West Quay (opening as John Lewis in September 2000).

Jani Frank, a director of the nearby Art House, described the project on Culture Southampton as being to create “incubator space for creative and community projects, to complement the performance and gallery spaces planned for the arts complex [to be built next door, apparently due to open in 2015].

"This could include, but not be limited to: art studios, rehearsal spaces, conference space, dance studios, recording studios, office spaces, space for small businesses, and meeting spaces.”

The council owns the building, which it wants to lease to another party, while the existing pub on the ground floor has recently been refurbished and is already on a long lease.

But although he says the building is structurally fine, Cllr Simon Letts, Cabinet Member for Resources at Southampton City Council, thinks a significant amount would need to be spent gutting and refurbishing it.

Bringing together creative people

So one idea is to work in partnership with a developer to encourage dual use of the significant amount of free space in the building.

“I’ve no idea how successful this is going to be, and we’re really in the exploratory phase at the moment,” said Cllr Letts, “It’s about building a consortium of interested parties and bringing together people who are creative and willing to take the idea forward.”

Links

Art House proposes creative community space

Culture Southampton – new arts complex

The history of John Lewis Southampton

Remembering city’s arts centre – video about The Gantry which closed in 2001