Sheffield pub could be converted into flats after Covid-19 hits trade

The Old Club on Ecclesall Road could be transformed into five flats for students and young professionals.

The site is occupied by the pub, previously used as a private members club, the Polish Catholic Centre and the Millennium Hall. It neighbours the Lost and Found pub.

In a planning application, Spacebar Studio says: “The original main house is thought to be of Victorian era and following changes in 1966 it became the Polish Catholic Centre.

“The main house was then converted into a private members club and an extension was added which holds the Millennium Hall. The main dwelling was changed to a pub in 2017.

“Following events of 2020 and Covid-19 it has become inevitable that not all hospitality venues will survive.

“The site owners, the Polish Catholic Mission, have been faced with challenges like many other worship communities with no footfall and reductions on collections and charitable donations.

“It has become inevitable that a review of the existing assets is needed.”

The architects say the potential to convert it into flats for students and young professionals has become “more apparent” in recent years.

They add: “It is obvious that it could never go back to its origins of being a family home, the location with added lack of private amenity space and rear garden means the conversion to flats is the closest use to this once proud dwelling.

“Covid-19 has impacted on the hospitality industry the most and The Old Club has remained empty for most of the year. It is very unlikely that this site will see the revival of hospitality activity in the near future.

“The tired condition of this dwelling would mean that the investment to make the site attractive to the hospitality industry would be significant.

“There is also established similar activity [Lost and Found bar] which would mean the competition would be seen as a further deterrent.”

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