Nottingham Forest given green light for club shop upgrade next to expanded City Ground

Nottingham Forest have been given the green light to build a new three-storey club shop near the City Ground.

The club shop upgrade will allow for Nottingham Forest to go ahead with their plan to increase the City Ground's capacity by more than 20,000 seats.

Club shop upgrade part of City Ground redevelopment

Nottingham Forest have received approval from Rushcliffe Borough Council to go ahead with plans to build a new three-storey club shop near the City Ground.

The club applied for permission in August to put the new superstore on the corner of Radcliffe Road and Pavilion Road, next to the William Gunn pub.

While the new location is slightly further away from the current one-storey store on Pavilion Road, located directly next to the stadium, it remains within walking distance and will allow for more space in front of the ground following the demolition of the current shop.

Planning documents submitted to the council show how the new shop will provide an “enhanced and modernised” experience for supporters across the ground and first floors, including food and drink being available on the ground floor, while the top floor will be used as office space and meeting rooms.

Alongside providing an improved experience for visitors, the larger shop will also mean more jobs are available than at the current club shop, with 14-full time and 50 part-time job opportunities.

The shop will be permitted to stay open between 7am and 7pm on weekdays, from 8am until 7pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays, while it has also received permission to stay open until one hour after full-time on matchdays.

The plan forms part of Nottingham Forest's City Ground redevelopment, which includes the club receiving permission from the council in September to increase the capacity of the City Ground by more than 20,000 seats.

The expansion would bring the City Ground's capacity to a total of around 52,500 supporters, significantly more than the initial plan to raise the venue's capacity to beyond 38,000 via the rebuilding of the Peter Taylor Stand.

FGG Says: Plenty to look forward to as a Forest fan

Not only is news of the expanded and improved club shop something to look forward to as a Forest fan, but the plan serving as part of the club's wider plans to improve and expand the City Ground is especially exciting.