Half-century-old restaurant could make way for student accommodation

The first that Isabella Ricci knew about plans to demolish the restaurant that has been owned by her family for almost half a century was when she received a letter in the post.

Plans submitted to Bristol City Council are for Vincenzo’s on the corner of Park Street and Charlotte Street, and the shop below it, to be demolished and turned into student accommodation.

Ricci told Bristol 24/7: “I don’t like it. We’ve been here for 48 years and we would like to stay here as it is.”

The planning application proposes the demolition of the current building and replacing it with 16 studios and one three-bedroom flat, with a restaurant on the ground floor where TM Lewin is currently located.

The proposals for 71 and 71A Park Street include 17 student flats and a ground floor restaurant

After being destroyed on November 24 1940 during the Blitz, for some unknown reason only the ground floor and parts of the first floor of number 71 were rebuilt, leaving room for Vincenzo’s gazebo-like restaurant seating upstairs.

At the time of the Blitz, 71 Park Street was probably empty having previously been occupied by Pembroke Galleries. Above the ground floor shop, the upper floors were the home to the Clifton Arts Club accessed through a grand entrance on Charlotte Street.

Further up the road and adjoining 71 Park Street was 18 Charlotte Street, home to Douglas Cleverdon’s antiquarian bookshop which also fronted Hill Street. The bookshop’s fascia signage was painted by Eric Gill in 1926, with the work the first example of the famous Gill Sans font.

The planning application states that the new building will improve the appearance of Park Street by restoring the site back to a three-storey property.

It would also mean the demise of two much-loved murals: Nick Walker’s Coat of Arms and a more recent addition by Jody of a person holding a bunch of flowers, commissioned to mark the opening of The Florist.

TM Lewin occupies the ground floor of the building

“The proposed shopfront will provide a strong and dramatic corner while complimenting the design of other shopfronts to the street,” say architects Studio Henley, who are themselves based on Park Street.

The design proposals are for a slightly higher structure in the same style as the building almost opposite occupied by Gourmet Burger Kitchen, and the former Jamie’s Italian further up the road.

“At present the lack of any building of height to the corner on Park Street forms a poor quality entrance to Charlotte Street,” the architects’ statement says.

“We propose that the new building has the height of the main façade restored to its original level, with the parapet level matching that at no. 73. This allows it to return to being a gateway building to Charlotte Street…

“The building is ideally located for student accommodation being in the city centre and within easy walking distance of the main Bristol University buildings and with excellent public transport links for UWE.

“There is a great demand for high quality student accommodation, particularly from the overseas and mature student market.

As well as addressing the need for student housing there is also significant benefit to the local economy from the increased footfall and spending power of the students.”

The proposed view of the development as seen from the top of Charlotte Street

Read more: New plans to revitalise Park Street and Queen’s Road