Plans unveiled to open ‘gritty urban burger experience’ restaurant and bar at a prominent building in Northampton town centre

Proposals have been submitted to reopen Unit 1 of the City Building in Fish Street, formerly home to a Subway franchise, into a ‘Crazy Pickle’ establishment.

Little detail has been revealed by the applicant, Mr Vasile Borta, in the planning papers about what the site would offer.

However, a Google search of ‘Crazy Pickle’ reveals that it is a brand focused on "capturing the essence of a gritty, urban burger and beer experience tailored for a discerning twenty-to-thirty demographic."

The brand creator’s website states: “Our goal was to weave together a high-quality culinary journey with a laid-back, cool atmosphere, embodying an adventurous spirit that resonates with the lifestyle of urban creatives. With the establishment’s graffiti-style aesthetic and valued offerings, we sought to revolutionize the traditional burger and beer scene.

"The brand’s narrative is anchored by a 'vigilante pickle' character, a unique emblem representing the bold and rebellious heart of the restaurant.”

According to estate agents, the property’s rent is £36,000 per year.

A target decision date has been set for March 12.

Separate plans were approved in January 2023 for the site to be converted into a 'woodland bar,' but they never came to fruition."

It is believed the Subway branch, which had been open for many years, closed down in 2021 during the pandemic lockdown.

Next door, Irish bar Rosie O’Leary’s opened in a separate unit in City Buildings in Spring 2024.

Also nearby, the former Buddies Diner in Dychurch Lane, which had been trading for 40 years before closing in 2020, is being transformed into ‘Mission Chicken’.