Newcastle music store JG Windows set to become Giggling Squid restaurant

The famous music shop in a prime city centre shopping arcade is set to become a huge new restaurant, according to planning documents

A prime Newcastle spot in a city centre shopping arcade is set to be converted into a sizeable new restaurant, according to planning documents. Music retailer JG Windows abruptly shut its doors permanently in November 2024, attributing its difficulties to fierce competition from major online retailers.

The expansive store, which stocked everything from instruments to grand pianos, records, sheet music and musical equipment, had been a regular destination for big-name stars and budding musicians for decades, having first opened in Central Arcade in 1908. Yet following the auction of its stock, the large unit has sat vacant ever since, alongside the neighbouring empty premises, previously occupied by health food company Naked Deli.

Now, however, Taras Properties Ltd – the property arm of arcade owners Reuben Brothers – has submitted planning applications revealing plans to convert the space into a sizeable Thai restaurant, The Giggling Squid.

The family business, which takes its name from a nickname given to the founders’ children, has been steadily expanding throughout the UK in recent years and now operates 53 restaurants throughout the UK.

It has ambitions to launch a sizeable new venue in Newcastle, by occupying the empty JG Windows premises along with the vacant Naked Deli space. The design statement lodged alongside the application emphasises how Giggling Squid boasts over two decades of expertise and establishments across England, including the Grade II Listed Earl Street site in Maidstone.

The document states: “Both units are currently vacant; as such, the proposed development seeks to facilitate a long-term viable use for the building as a restaurant, which is located in a prominent position within Newcastle City Centre’s Urban Core. Giggling Squid have extensive experience in balancing the needs of their restaurants within the confines of listed buildings.

“Indeed, the Maidstone Giggling Squid restaurant is located within the Grade II Listed Maidstone Club. Giggling Squid’s extensive experience in sensitively restoring Listed Buildings has helped positively shape the final designs.”

The application states that most of the historic first-floor layout would remain largely unaltered, apart from three minor openings. Proposed modifications also include installing a kitchen area alongside customer dining spaces, featuring a combination of banquette seating and dining table seating along the Grey Street elevation and bullnose.

The shopfront is proposed to be repainted green, in accordance with the Grainger Town Shopfront Design Guide, and externally, on the Grey Street elevation, the top and bottom mouldings of the former Naked Deli shopfront will be replaced to create continuous mouldings to the fascia. Careful restoration of the existing timber shopfront will also be carried out, including the existing gold leaf “Newcastle Brewers Ltd” sign at the footwell of 99 Grey Street.

Within the internal Central Arcade walkway, the existing stained and polished shopfront will be preserved and repaired where necessary, and the existing JG Windows signage will remain in place, with the new fascia signage to be overlaid using 3mm powder-coated aluminium.

The application adds: “Given the site’s prominent location within the Urban Core, the proposed development would enhance the vibrancy of the city centre, as encouraged by local policy. The compatibility of restaurants in proximity to dwellings has also been established through the presence of Côte Brasserie and Café Andaluz within the Central Exchange Building.”

The application says the majority of the historic layout of the first floor would remain largely unchanged, with the exception of three minor openings. Proposed alterations also include the installation of a kitchen area as well as customer dining areas, comprising a mix of banquette seating and dining table seating, along the Grey Street elevation and bullnose. The shop front is proposed to be repainted green, in line with the Grainger Town Shopfront Design Guide.

The application adds: “Given the site’s prominent location within the Urban Core, the proposed development would enhance the vibrancy of the city centre, as encouraged by local policy. The compatibility of restaurants in proximity to dwellings has also been established through the presence of Côte Brasserie and Café Andaluz within the Central Exchange Building.

“The proposed development will provide some clear conservation benefits through the retention of features of residual value within the building and the enhancement of the Grainger Town shop front. Due to the large amount of necessary physical works within the building, it is acknowledged that there could be some residual less than substantial harm, albeit at a very low level following a considered design process.

“Nonetheless, it has been demonstrated, that the public benefits associated with this proposal far outweigh any less than substantial harm. The high quality fit out designed to complement a heritage asset will ensure that a space that is not currently fit for purpose without change and investment will be ready for use and enjoyment for the public.”

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