Hull’s city centre evening economy and hospitality sector is set to receive a huge boost as new late-night bar and restaurant Iron Lilies officially opens today, Friday 12 July, thanks to support from Hull City Council.
The venue occupies the former Virgin Megastore on Level 2 of Princes Quay Shopping Centre which has stood vacant for a decade.
It will complement the ever-expanding nighttime offering in the area, including BrewDog, on Princes Dock Street and at the nearby marina.
The 200-seat restaurant features a botanical theme, with water features and plants providing a greenhouse-like feel.
There is an outdoor terrace and plans to open a mezzanine in the near future, with live music set to be a regular attraction.
The circa £2 million project is the brainchild of Tokyo Industries (Yorkshire) Ltd, which owns the shopping centre.
Tokyo Industries managing director, Aaron Mellor, said: “Iron Lilies is a great addition to Hull and we’re looking forwarding to welcoming people.
“This space has been underused for about 15 years and the first thing I noticed when we took over the shopping centre is what a great space this is.
“The huge glass feel to a centre lends itself to a greenhouse feel, which is what we’ve tried to do with the design, creating an orangery and also having botanical themed cocktails.
“Hull has a tremendous cultural sector, a legacy from 2017 which we’re aiming to take advantage of.”
Tokyo Industries was the recipient of a £750,000 government-backed grant for Iron Lilies courtesy of Hull City Council last summer.
The venture has created around 20 full-time jobs and brought back into use 861sqm of unused floor space, fulfilling the grant scheme’s objectives.
Aaron said that the venue would not have been able to open without the council’s support.
He said: “We couldn’t be more thankful to the council for its support.
“The grant we were awarded was actually key to this whole thing happening and the council has been amazing since our acquisition of Princes Quay.
“Hull has a great catchment area and we look forward to continuing to work with the council in developing the city’s nighttime economy.”
Iron Lilies’ menu features a range of small plates and larger sharing boards covering all dietary requirements, with a vast array of cocktails available, as well as its own brewed beer.
The venue hosted several VIP and special guest evenings in the run-up to its grand opening today.
Cllr Mike Ross, leader of the council, attended on Tuesday 9 July.
He said: “It’s wonderful to have Iron Lilies now open and to see such a large space reinvented and brought back to life.
“This shows that Hull is a city that is worth investing in and I hope that people can come and enjoy it.
“The range of schemes and venues which the council has supported is fantastic, something we’re really committed to continuing with.”
More images of Iron Lilies are available here.
