7 Dundee pubs and clubs that could be given a new lease of life

The Courier

14-05-2025

Several pubs and clubs across Dundee could be set for a new lease of life if plans come to fruition.
Convenience stores, student accommodation and a state-of-the-art gym are among the plans in place for venues across the city.
Some of them have been closed for some time, while others are currently on the market.
We take a look at seven pubs and clubs in the city that could be transformed.
Plans have been lodged to turn the former Clancy's Irish Bar into a convenience store.
The pub on the corner of Polepark Road and Milnbank Road, which was once called the Bay Horse, closed in March, citing rising operational costs and increased competition.
Bosses decided operating the unit as a pub was 'no longer sustainable'.
City Centre Pubs Dundee, run by the Marr family, has submitted the proposals for an 'affordable alternative' to the nearby Co-op on Brook Street to Dundee City Council.
Another former Dundee pub set to be converted into a convenience store is the Airlie Arms.
The Stobswell pub was a popular fixture for football fans but closed its doors last year.
It was then sold by hospitality group Rosemount Taverns.
Plans have now been submitted by Jerry Paul from Perth-based 7 Eleven Retail Ltd to convert the unit into a Keystore shop.
The former Dungeon Urban Bar on Princes Street is the subject of plans for a state-of-the-art gym.
The proposals – lodged with Dundee City Council – include an eight-person sauna, a hot tub and whiskey barrel cold plunge tubs.
An outdoor shower area is also included in the plans.
The former Lyrics nightclub in Dundee could be turned into student flats.
Plans to convert the St Andrews Lane building into student accommodation were submitted earlier this year.
Accommodation would be organised over three storeys, including a mix of private living quarters and communal areas.
The building is in a serious state of disrepair after it was damaged by a fire days after the remnants of a cannabis farm were found in 2023.
The planning application will be considered by Dundee City Council in the coming weeks.
Stobswell pub Ferrari's was put on the market by London-based owner Admiral Taverns Piccadilly Ltd in March.
It is up for sale on the basis that it is no longer used as a pub – which the firm says will be a condition of the sale – though the venue continues to operate as normal meantime, according to its Facebook page.
Marketing agent Colliers says the unit would be suitable for a variety of 'alternative uses', such as a vets or a dentists, subject to planning permission.
While no concrete plans have been submitted, the unit is currently under offer.
Another former nightclub set to be transformed into student accommodation is Liquid.
Plans for an eight-storey student flat development with 215 bedrooms were approved in December 2023.
A cinema room, gym, study areas and bike storage were all included in the plans.
The building hit the market as a £2.5 million 'investment opportunity' in May last year.
Plans for the demolition of the South Ward Road nightclub were approved in March, though as of May, the building remains standing.
The Ambassador Bar on Clepington Road faces a less certain future.
The pub closed in January 2024 and was then put on the market with the prospect of being redeveloped for 'alternative uses'.
Shortly after it was sold, it then went under the hammer with an opening bid of £338,000.
However, more than 12 months on, the building remains empty and in a state of disrepair, and it looks unlikely it has any future as a licensed premises.
There has been speculation that the site could be redeveloped for housing, but any future plans would need permission from the council.