Plymouth businessman says city centre facelift is 'killing' his bar

Plymouth's Old Town Street is in the process of a huge “facelift” which one businessman said has made normal trading difficult for some venues in the area.

Plymouth City Council has said the “end is in sight” as the project moves into the “final stages of the work”, but Bar Koda owner Warren Jones says the upheaval is “killing” his business.

Mr Jones' bar is situated on Old Town Street where part of the revamp is taking place. The scheme, which aims to refresh and revive the area, has been going on for nearly three years, but Mr Jones said it “keeps getting delayed” and has caused issues.

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He said he has been forced to close Bar Koda some days in the last week due to “noise, dust and disruption”. The 37-year-old opened the bar in December (2023) and expected the work to have been completed by now.

He said: “When I took on the bar, the work was supposed to be completed by March (2024). It’s been noisy, dusty and it looks horrible. There’s not much light coming in because of tarpaulin being up (just outside the front) at the moment.

“This has of course meant a huge decline in footfall. I understand that things get delayed and they’ve had to get specialists in, but it’s killing us. I know it will look great when it’s all done, but it’s gone on far too long.”

Mr Jones was hoping to introduce outside seating, but this has not been possible, he said that this was another “kick in the teeth” as other nearby businesses were “offered free outdoor seating”.

Plymouth City Council has said that is “totally accepts that the work has been disruptive” but have “worked hard to minimise” the upheaval.

Bar Koda has just started opening during the daytime through to the evening, but a temporary bridge just outside the premises has caused further issues for the business.

Mr Jones said that dozens of his customers have admitted that they have “stayed away” due to the disruption and it’s been “hard” on the business.

He said: “We have tried to seek business relief, but who do we turn to, business rates said no relief would be provided and the Valuation Office said there would be no grant. The work has just now been extended into November (2024), but we are concerned that it could get delayed again.”

A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: “The businesses along Old Town Street and New George Street have been – and continue to be – extremely understanding and patient while this extensive facelift of this key city centre street has been underway.

“We have not asked this business or any business to close. We have made sure that through the entire programme, access to all shops has been available at every stage of this project.

“We are in the final stages of the work and contractors excavated the entrance last night and installed the concrete plank today. The contractors are prioritising this area and the temporary bridge to the entrance will be in-place until the paving is completed. This particular premises shut on Sunday and Monday, so the contractors used this opportunity to complete the works.

"We totally accept that the work has been disruptive but have worked hard to minimise this as much as possible. The end is in sight and the new scheme opens up this area with new landscaping, a move away from a road for taxis to a broad pedestrian approach with more of a focus on shoppers and people enjoying somewhere to eat and drink."

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