Cheltenham's iconic Daffodil restaurant could be turned into a four-bedroom house

There are plans to convert an iconic former art deco restaurant in Cheltenham into a home. The previously award-winning restaurant The Daffodil struggled to reopen after the pandemic lockdowns.

After serving food from the well-known Art Deco building for roughly 20 years, the restaurant, which is renowned for its sweeping staircases and classy interior, closed in August 2022. It then briefly re-opened for events and weddings but struggled to find a working use for the large site, with the last temporary occupant in November 2023.

The property was vacated in December last year and has been marketed for sale or lease without any interest. Now Croft Capital UK Asset Management Limited, the building’s owners, want permission from Cheltenham Borough Council to convert it into a residential property.

READ MORE:Bar terrace turns into winter wonderland ahead of festive two-hour brunch launch

READ MORE:Small coffee shop in Cheltenham seeks permission to sell alcohol in artistic hub bid

The site is made up of part of an existing two to four storey terraced building located on the east side of Suffolk Parade near to the junction with Daffodil Street. The building is not nationally listed but lies in Cheltenham’s central conservation area.

The owners want to know whether prior approval is needed to change the use of the property from commercial, business and service use to residential. The proposals suggest the creation of a four bed home with ensuite bathrooms, walk in wardrobes, an office and storage rooms as well as a living room/kitchen.

Consultants working on the scheme say the proposals’ harm to the conservation area is less than substantial. And they say the scheme would bring a vacant building back into use.

“The conversion will therefore secure the long-term future use of the whole building as residential accommodation which would outweigh the negligible harm to the assets," the planning documents read.

"In overall terms, the proposal would not compromise the setting of the nearby locally listed building and sustains the character and appearance of the host property and the surrounding conservation area.”

The applicants also say that the proposal meets and exceeds the required internal space standards. “There is no reason to withhold prior approval and we therefore look forward to receiving a positive determination in due course.”

The former Daffodil Cinema occupies a large plot of land in Suffolk Parade. It was built in 1922 and converted to a restaurant by Nurden Paxton Tilley in 1998. Borough planners are expected to make a decision on the proposals by January next year.

Many people will have fond memories of dining in the restaurant over the years. It has also been a classy venue for town events, with people able to admire the art deco styling of the historic building.

If you have memories you would like to share with us of the Daffodil over the years, you can contact us at gloslivenews@reachplc.com. You can also comments below.

We will look to use some of your memories in a future article.