City Pub Group to open brasserie style restaurant in Bury St Edmunds at former Café Rouge

A pub company is to branch out by opening a brasserie style restaurant at the former Café Rouge in Bury St Edmunds.

City Pub Group, which bought the empty premises in Abbeygate Street last year, has submitted plans to West Suffolk Council to revamp the building into Astor & Beau.

The proposals include work to the back garden to create extra seating and a new fixed frame retractable canopy.

Rather than a pub though, the company wants to open a sit down table service food and drink offer.

Documents submitted by Walsingham Planning said: "The offer proposed by City Pubs is a new casual dining all day trading concept based on a brasserie.

"It will be entirely seated and table service only, where guests are greeted by a host on the entrance.

"There will be no bar service.

"Customers will be able to sit down and only order drinks, however the offer will be primarily food led.

"It will be a unique offer for Bury St Edmunds and one that will revitalise the premises and bring vitality and vibrancy back into the building and this part of the town centre."

City Pub Group has sought planning permission, listed building consent and advertisement consent.

Walsingham Planning said the restaurant would feature a new bar counter, seating, flooring and light fittings and the basement would also be refurbished.

A new cellar drop at the front of the building is proposed to allow deliveries directly into the basement.

A fixed frame structure over the garden seating area would have a retractable glazed roof.

The advertisement consent application includes replacement non-illuminated over door glazing and text, a replacement internally illuminated menu box and one internally illuminated projecting sign.

Cllr Julia Wakelam, who represents the Abbeygate ward on West Suffolk Council, said she did not like the illuminated projecting sign as it would add 'nothing to the street scene'.

In comments to the authority, she also objected to the proposed use of vinyl signage on the windows.

Cllr Wakelam said: "This is an important building and they greatly detract from its overall look."