A former designer store in Yarm is set to be transformed into a luxury restaurant and hotel - with a new video giving a sneak peak of how the venue will look. 

The House - formerly owned by Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley - was recently acquired by a “well known restaurant proprietor” with plans to breathe new life into the Grade II listed building. 

Proposals were submitted to Stockton Council earlier this year for a swathe of internal alterations, an outside awning and a fresh lick of paint for the exterior. 

The applicant, who has not yet been named, aims to develop the building in two phases - the first being a Pan Asian restaurant and the second a boutique hotel on the upper floors. 

How The House in Yarm could look (Image: TOTAL PLANNING SOLUTIONS)

Two applications were lodged by C & R Properties NE Ltd - one full planning application and a separate listed building application - to “improve the overall dilapidated state” of the site. 

Both of these applications were approved with conditions earlier this year. 

Now, Total Planning Solutions, which prepared the planning support statement for the development, has released some first look CGI concept art of how the site will look. 

The sleek artwork includes luxurious blue booths, an indoor pink blossom tree, and even a comfy swinging basket. 

New venture will make building ‘fit for purpose’

The House hit the market back in 2022 and shut last summer, following a closing down sale. It officially ceased trading in October 2023. 

The luxurious store, which was trading as Cruise, one of Frasers' brands, formerly ran a café at the rear of the ground floor and housed Contemporary hair salon on the first floor. 

The House is set to be transformed (Image: TOTAL PLANNING SOLUTIONS)

Now, the former café and kitchen areas will form part of the new restaurant, while an “inviting bar area” is set to be created in the south portion of the front room. 

As part of phase two, the upper floors will be transformed into boutique hotel rooms achieved via a separate entrance from High Church Wynd. 

The main front area of the first floor will be repurposed as a private dining area with a small bar and toilet areas, while two separate en-suite hotel rooms are located elsewhere on the first floor. 

The outside of The House in Yarm (Image: GOOGLE)

At the second floor, the existing rooms - previously used for storage and in “very dated decorative order” - will be repurposed as three ensuite bedrooms. 

A new mezzanine is also set to be created off the stairwell landing. 

The aim of the project is to create a “unique restaurant experience” on the High Street, according to a planning support statement from Mr Fahim Farooqui of Total Planning Solutions. 

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The application notes how the building is “not well suited for retail” due to its change of levels and room proportions and that some lighting and other fixed features had “caused damage to existing architectural features.” 

ELG Planning’s heritage impact assessment also stated how the building has “clear issues of water ingress and issues with shedding water” due to a glaze atrium - and the new owner hopes to make improvements to fix this. 

Details regarding when the project is scheduled to be complete are not currently known.