Plans revealed for The Cathedral Hotel and roof-top bar in Salisbury

The owner and developer Brian Currie outlined his vision for his Cathedral Hotel in Milford Street. He urged support, saying: “Salisbury should not be a museum, it should be a living, breathing thing.”

The meeting took place on Monday, October 23 and planning committee members listened to a presentation by planning consultant Adam Bennett.

The Cathedral Hotel (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Bennett said: “We have been on a journey to figure out how to bring it back. We are looking at the provision of a five-star premises if we can. The plan is to have a bar on the ground floor and a restaurant that spills out into the courtyard. There will be holistic therapies as well as meeting rooms which can be hired.”

Read more: Information from the planning and development committee meeting

The hotel is a grade II listed building and has an original staircase which runs up through the building. The intention is to add to it, and strip it back and restore it. 

Plans for a roof-top bar which would enable panoramic views across the city caused some concern to the councillors as the building is higher than the 40-foot restriction.

Mr Bennett said: "It would essentially be a viewing platform and be about the experience." 

Discussing the plans (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "Any increase in height, well, we don't feel it would be detrimental. This is to fill a gap in the market.”

If granted permission, it would become Salisbury’s first roof-top bar.

The hotel has 22 bedrooms currently, and these are mostly ensuite.

Mr Bennett said: "The hotel didn't offer anything unique or different, so we are looking at 14 suites now and high-end luxury.”

Read more: How the Salisbury River Park Project is coming together

The rooms will be designed to have flexibility, but the aim is to invite leisure and tourism to Salisbury.

Mr Currie was present at the meeting at Bemerton Heath Centre on Monday but said he did not want the focus to be on him. He told the committee that he loved Salisbury, explaining how he had been brought up in a house close to the Bemerton Heath Centre and did state it was a 'legacy project.'

He said: “Salisbury should not be a museum, it should be a living, breathing thing.”

Councillor Jo King said: "I think this is really exciting for Salisbury. I am really pleased and think this building is going to be tremendous."

Councillor Sven Hocking said: "There is an issue about the 40ft rule, but I am going to come off the fence and say that I want to see this building done and I am persuaded by the fact, that we will have a rooftop bar."

The hotel had closed in July 2022 after its operator Old Sarum Hotels Ltd went into administration.