A distinctive former pub, restaurant, and nightclub housed in a landmark Art Deco building is now for sale, sparking hopes for a fresh lease of life for the historic venue.
Known as The Lighthouse, this striking property on Church Street, Tamworth, has previously operated under popular brands including JD Wetherspoon’s The Silk Kite, Lloyds No.1 Bar, and Chicago Rock Café. It is now available for £300,000.
Constructed in the 1930s, the three-storey building features a whitewashed façade, central balconies, and a memorable clockface that make it an instantly recognisable fixture opposite Corporation Street in the heart of Tamworth.
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Originally designed as a showroom for the Tamworth & District Electricity Supply Company, the building underwent conversion into a vibrant bar and nightclub in the early 2000s and quickly became a local favourite.
Following its closure as a nightclub, the premises were left abandoned and later found to have been used for illegal activity, with a £300,000 cannabis farm discovered inside last year. The building currently stands vacant.
Spanning 6,492 square feet on the ground floor and an additional 974 square feet on the first floor, the venue boasts an expansive layout. Entrance from Church Street leads directly into a spacious open-plan trading area, which includes a central bar servery, DJ booth, dance floor, and raised seating on both sides and rear.
Behind the main area, there is a commercial kitchen, customer toilets, and various storage spaces. The first floor contains a beer store, manager’s office, and staff facilities. Notably, the property does not include any private living accommodation.
While the remaining upper floors remain part of the freehold, those areas were sold on 999-year leases in 2002 at a nominal rent.
Andy Tudor, divisional director at Fleurets Midlands who are marketing the property, stated: “The property was converted to a bar in the early part of the 21st century and has since housed notable venues such as Chicago Rock Café and JD Wetherspoon’s. With a 2am licence, seven days a week, this presents an excellent opportunity for a new operator to breathe fresh life into this iconic space.”