Rooftop bar Plans could be blocked over cathedral view concerns

A PLAN to create a huge rooftop terrace at the heart of Bristol's floating harbour to give people panoramic views across the historic city looks set to be blocked by the city council - because it will partially obscure one glimpse of Bristol Cathedral from a spot across the water.

- Tristan CORK

City Hall planning officers are set to recommend councillors refuse to give permission for the creation of the rooftop terrace on top of the V-Shed building at the harbourside, when the request goes before a committee at the end of this month.

The owner of the V-Shed wants to create a rooftop terrace that would run the whole length of the waterfront building, and be divided into three different terrace bar areas, for each of the three current occupants - Coyote Ugly, Wetherspoons and the Ritorno Lounge.

Each bar would have its own access stairs and disability-accessible lift, and customers would be able to sit and enjoy the panoramic views from the top, which give spectacular vistas across to Brandon Hill, the cathedral, up St Augustine's Reach, across to Prince Street Bridge and the M Shed and down the Floating Harbour towards the SS Great Britain.

The terrace would be designed so no one can get too close to the edge, and it would have glass panelled sides to prevent people throwing anything from the rooftop.

The plan has been backed by the council's own economic development team, as well as local councillor Patrick McAllister (Green, Hotwells and Harbourside), but it has run into trouble with council planners for one specific reason.

The plan would see solar panels fitted onto the cantilever part of the roof on the west side, and a pergola canopy to provide shelter and shade along one side of the terrace. As well as that, the three service structures to house the lifts from each of the three bars would stick up above the roofline too.

The extra structures on the roof mean the view from a certain spot on the corner of Narrow Quay by the Arnolfini across the top of the V-Shed building to a glimpse of the tower of Bristol Cathedral would be partially obscured and that, according to council planners, is enough to recommend the entire project be rejected.