One of Bradford's most famous pubs is set to be transformed into a state-of-the-art outlet for specialist businesses, the Telegraph & Argus can reveal.

Plans have been drawn up for the Melborn Hotel, White Abbey Road, to be converted into a glazed building comprising six retail units, selected to complement each other.

Bombay Stores, which bought the dormant pub for £780,000 six months ago, is spending more than £2 million on the project and hopes to open the new-look building next April.

The building is set to include:

  • a rooftop fusion restaurant, called the Bombay Imperial
  • a Middle Eastern jeweller
  • a men's salon
  • a ladies' hair and beauty salon
  • a wedding shop
  • a menswear boutique
An extra floor is planned for the roof-top restaurant, along with a glass capsule lift to the front of the building.

The building's original stonework is set to remain, but the brickwork and bay windows are expected to be taken out and replaced with glazing.

Vaseem Kader, store manager for Bombay Stores, said: "It's a very exciting project because it's all about bringing different businesses and different people together. The whole thing has to work so it can complement each other.

"The biggest angle is that it's not just for Asians, it's for the whole community. The fusion restaurant, the salons and the jewellers will attract people from all walks of life."

Mr Kader said many of the businesses contained within the Melborn, which does not yet have a new name, would be unique in Bradford.

He said: "We don't have a men's grooming salon in Bradford at the moment."

Bosses at Bombay Stores are also in talks with the Damas jewellery chain, from Dubai.

Mr Kader: "There are lots of jewellers in Bradford, and that's why we are looking for someone who can come in with a different angle. They are opening four sites in London and we are hoping to persuade them to come to Bradford.

"We are also in discussions with the planners, but have been told everything should be fine."

e-mail: will.kilner@bradford.newsquest.co.uk