A significant redevelopment proposal has been unveiled for 146–148 High Street, aiming to transform the former public house into a mixed-use development with student accommodation and retail space.
The scheme proposes the conversion and extension of the existing building, previously home to pubs including Varsity and The Ranch. If approved, the project will deliver 63 self-contained student accommodation units along with two new ground-floor retail units fronting the High Street.
History
Formerly operating as The Ranch and Varsity pub, it was sold at auction in March 2025 for £275,000.
Prior to closure in 2022, the site functioned as a bar and restaurant with extensive facilities: spacious bar areas, a kitchen, owner’s accommodation, plus a car park and an outdoor seating area.
Economic pressures played a critical role in its decline, although the business initially withstood the COVID-19 lockdowns, subsequent energy costs overwhelmed its viability.
Going further back, in 2016 planning permission had been granted for a four-storey development on the site, incorporating two retail units and 15 student apartments, but that permission has since lapsed.
Details of the Proposal
According to the Design and Access Statement, the development has been designed to integrate with the surrounding urban fabric. The scale of new construction will not exceed the existing roofline, with materials chosen to balance the historic frontage with contemporary finishes.
Student residents would have access to communal living spaces and secure cycle storage. No on-site parking is planned, in line with the city centre location and proximity to transport links: Bangor railway station lies just 600 metres away, and both the bus station and Ffordd Deiniol bus stop are within 500 metres.
Public Consultation Open
As a major development, the proposal requires a Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) under Welsh planning regulations. The consultation period is open until 17 October 2025, inviting public feedback before a formal planning application is submitted. Interested parties can comment by email (info@russellhughes.co.uk) or by post to Russell-Hughes Cyf., 56 Bridge Street, Llangefni, Anglesey LL77 7HH.
Full details, including architectural plans, can be viewed on the consultation website.
