Open air terrace plans at closed Shrewsbury riverside restaurant blasted by critics

Critics have blasted a proposal to create a new open air terrace area at a closed restaurant on the banks of the River Severn.

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Terrace Charcoal Grill and Lounge Bar on Smithfield Road, Shrewsbury officially opened its doors in July 2023 after a two-year effort to transform the building.

Prior to the renovation, the former Lily’s Riverside Tea Garden had been closed for several years before being taken on by husband and wife, James and Wendy Yurky and two other business partners.

However, on September 30, 2024, Mr Yurky announced that the restaurant would be closing. Explaining the decision, he said the business had not been generating enough revenue for the past six months and he had been paying the staff personally during that time.

The restaurant was put up for sale by Towler Shaw Roberts (TSR). In May 2025, the firm said it had been purchased by “an undisclosed local company” with offers in the region of £495,000 being offered.

However, despite TSR saying the restaurant was set to reopen last summer, it remains closed.

Naveen Chohan has now submitted a planning application to Shropshire Council. The proposal is for improvements to be made to the kitchen and servery areas, and the existing ground floor covered terrace area to be provided with a staircase to a new first floor open air terrace.

If approved, the premises would be open from 10am to 11pm with two part-time staff and one full-time equivalent being employed.

However, the proposal has so far attracted criticism.

Mary and Andrew Fox said it is the perfect location for a restaurant and viable business, but doubling its size means doubling the potential noise and nuisance for the scores of nearby residents.

“It will be an unappealing steel, concrete and glass blot in a stunning landscape and an intrusive neighbour for the adjacent heritage housing terrace – and for river users and cruisers a blight on the serenity of the Severn,” they said.

“Please consider the wildlife – bringing so much to the river. Swans, greylags and our annual Kingfisher (which flies into glass at every opportunity) will be discombobulated for sure.

“The premises are fine as they are and we wish the new owners success.”

Shrewsbury Town Council has also lodged an objection after its planning committee considered the scheme on Tuesday (April 14).

Members felt it is an overdevelopment and would be be visually dominant from all angles of the river and Smithfield Road.

“The proposed structure would not fit within the character of the area and neither preserves nor enhances the conservation area,” said a town council spokesperson.