The Ivy, the high‑profile restaurant group favoured by celebrities, is set to establish a presence in the centre of Newcastle after documents revealed plans to transform the former Lloyds Bank building at 102 Grey Street.
What the plans show
Architects instructed by the company behind The Ivy have submitted a licence application detailing proposals to convert the four‑storey sandstone building into a combined site for The Ivy and its sister offer, The Ivy Asia. The property, noted for its double‑height banking hall and a central atrium surrounded by office floors, is a well‑known feature of Newcastle’s Grey Street and is listed as Grade II*.
The planning documents were prepared by Brighton‑based Pattern Haus on behalf of Troia (UK) Restaurants Ltd, which trades as The Ivy Collection and The Ivy Asia. They outline a layout for the basement, ground floor and upper levels designed to retain and use the building’s dramatic internal spaces.
Background and local significance
Lloyds vacated the Grey Street premises last year after relocating to a different city‑centre site, freeing up what has been described as a trophy asset in Newcastle. The proposed conversion represents a major reuse of a central heritage property and promises to add a nationally recognised dining brand to Newcastle’s hospitality offer.
- Address: 102 Grey Street
- Building: Four storeys, double‑height banking hall, central atrium
- Developer/Operator: Troia (UK) Restaurants Ltd (The Ivy Collection & The Ivy Asia)
- Architects: Pattern Haus (Brighton)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Heritage status | Grade II* |
| Former use | Lloyds Bank (vacated) |
| Proposed use | The Ivy and The Ivy Asia |
For Newcastle this would be more than a single restaurant opening. The conversion of a prominent listed building on one of the city’s most architecturally celebrated streets will draw attention from residents, visitors and the hospitality industry alike. The Ivy brand is known for its opulent interiors and high‑profile clientele; bringing that offer to Grey Street could influence footfall patterns and the evening economy in the surrounding area.
What we do and do not know yet
At present the published documents amount to a licence application and detailed layout proposals: they confirm the firm intention to install both The Ivy and The Ivy Asia within 102 Grey Street but do not yet provide a confirmed opening date. The submission follows wider interest in the site since Lloyds’ relocation and arrives as the city hosts Newcastle Restaurant Week, an event likely to sharpen local appetite for new dining venues.
Further steps will include statutory planning and licensing decisions, building‑conservation approvals and any listed‑building consent required for works within the historic banking hall. These processes will determine the timetable and the extent of alterations allowed to the interior and exterior.
As developments progress, they will be closely watched by residents and city centre businesses for their implications for conservation, employment and the leisure economy.
