Volunteers restore empty buildings on Union Street

Empty pubs, clubs and cinemas in an area of Plymouth are being transformed by volunteers.

Nudge, a community benefit society, was set up in Stonehouse in 2017 in a bid to turn empty buildings into "used and loved" spaces.

The society said its vision for Union Street was to make it a place "the whole world loves again". It owns three buildings on the street and leases two more.

"When Nudge buys a building, we often do it a bit under the radar, but as soon as we've got it, we open the doors and we invite people in," said co-director and co-founder Wendy Hart.

Fellow co-director and co-founder Hannah Sloggett added: "We recognise it takes a community to make the kind of change that we need.

"It's not about one organisation leading that – it needs collective action."

Former pub, The Clipper, is now a Nigerian restaurant and C103, formerly JFK's nightclub, is now a mushroom farm.

The Plot, formerly the YMCA hostel, is now home to 22 different businesses.

The Clipper was bought through a local share scheme, which raised £205,000, and was restored by volunteers who revealed a mural by artist Vincent Bennett that features former customers.

Another transformation includes The Millennium.

Originally built in 1931 as a 2000-seat cinema, The Gaumont Palace Theatre, it went on to be the Majestic dance hall, a roller disco and nightclub.

Ms Hart said it was "really important" to honour the building's history.

"The murals from when it was a club, the art deco plasterwork, mosaics that people will tell you stories about," she said.

"It's a really gorgeous, big iconic building on Union Street, and it reflects the ambition of Nudge. It reflects that we really want to make a massive difference."

The aim is for signature elements, including the art deco domed ceiling to remain in place, with the society planning 12 workshop spaces, an area for exhibitions and potentially a new music venue for the city.

The society said there were plans for an urban farm at former nightclub C103 - which already houses a mushroom farm.

Rick Chambers, C103 site manager, said: "What we have is 1,000 square metres of potential.

"With all the glazed aspects up above, we'll be drawing in a lot of light, creating a glass box and we'll be doing indoor farming here.

"You can grow vertically, so it will be like the hanging gardens of Babylon.

"It's a building that shouldn't be empty and it's not going to be."

Ms Hart added: "We kind of let these buildings inspire us, and then we think - this could be a really vibrant place."

In addition to restoring the city's buildings, Nudge supports the Union Corner soup kitchen and community events.

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