New £900,000 restaurant vision for former Dudley fire station
This is the new vision for a £900,000 restaurant being created in a former fire station in the heart of Dudley town centre.
The Old Glasshouse is due to open its doors in July, creating up to 20 new jobs.
The building, previously Carvers Cafe, will be transformed into a stylish new bar and restaurant to bring the rundown, boarded up premises back to life.
It was also once home to Dudley's first fire station and a former glassworks.
The building which runs along one side of the Stone Street Square and is opposite the town centre landmark pub The Saracen's Head which is being converted into a sport bar/pub by Amber Taverns creating 20 new jobs.
Remains from the glass beneath Stone Street Square will be exposed with lighting and will be viewable through a glass floor in the Old Glasshouse.
The owner is Craig Willis and it will be managed by Shakeel Zafar.
"The Old Glasshouse will create 10 to 20 full and part-time jobs and recruitment will be starting later in the year," said Mr Zafar.
The bar entrance will be off the square with the bistro/restaurant entrance in Priory Street.
The project will see the reinstatement of a number of key architectural and heritage features.
These include the original fire station frontage, which will see the removal of the 70s shop front and the reconstruction of the fire station doors, creating direct access onto Priory Street.
The site, which is of archaeological significance, was once occupied by Dudley Flint Glass works and constructed around 1770.
Other work includes the rebuilding of a former hose drying tower, reinstatement of windows and doors, stable roof, repairs to brickwork as well as a second storey conversion and extension to accommodate a kitchen, office, toilet facilities and stores. Disabled toilet provision will be made on the ground floor.
The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Dudley Council.
