Revealed: How York’s Hard Rock Café and 64-bedroom hotel will look
New details and pictures have been revealed, outlining plans for a Hard Rock Café and 64-bedroom hotel in the centre of York.
As YorkMix reported last year, Hard Rock Café is to take over the old TK Maxx building, which opens onto both Coney Street and Market Street.
York-based property company North Star Developments has now submitted a full planning application to City of York Council.
It reveals that Hard Rock Café will take the ground floor and basement of the building, with separate restaurant, shop, bar and coffee shop areas, but also that an aparthotel run by room2 will be created above that.
They say the whole development will create 110 jobs: 100 at Hard Rock Café, and 10 in the aparthotel.
The striking Coney Street façade will be retained, but the developers plan to redesign the Market Street frontage, as shown in these artist’s impressions.
In their planning application, the developers say: “Hard Rock International is one of the world’s most globally recognised brands principally associated with collectible clothing, music-related merchandise, memorable dining experiences, Hard Rock Live performance venues and more.
“There are presently only five Hard Rock Cafes in the UK; London, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh & Glasgow.
“Three of the above are already on the major rail arterial route within the UK, which is the East Coast Mainline.
“York is already the catalyst of this route and would make a positive and logical addition to this list.”
Contemporary design
They add: “This development of a Hard Rock Café and aparthotel would serve to enhance and revitalise this prominent listed building in York’s Historic City Centre.
“The proposal ensures the preservation of the unique landmark façade on Coney Street and replaces a detracting façade [in Market Street] with a contemporary design which enhances the existing streetscape while being sensitive to context.
“This proposal will create new job opportunities and provide a vibrant and energetic destination to support the high street’s continuing development.”
They say Hard Rock Café and room2 are “truly committed to York as a key destination for their businesses” and say: “This proposal presents an opportunity to welcome forward looking businesses and contemporary architecture to the high street while preserving the historic character and unique sense of place of York’s city centre.”
Documents say room2 is a “hometel” brand that aims to set new standards in ‘sustainable hospitality’. It has venues in Hammersmith, Southampton and Chiswick.
The full planning application can be seen here on the City of York Council website. The application reference is 23/00059/FUL. There is also a related application for listed building consent, with the reference 23/00060/LBC.