News / stapleton
Development plans unveiled for former pub
A derelict pub in east Bristol is set to receive a new lease of life as the headquarters of a successful pharma-tech business.
The former Merchants Arms pub in Stapleton has stood unused for nearly ten years.
Tariq Muhammad, a businessman who purchased the property back in 2022, has recently unveiled his plans for the space.
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Under Muhammad’s plans, the building on Averay Road will be converted into offices and nine flats, with a cafe on the ground floor.
Muhammad, chief executive of Invatech Health, intends to relocate his company’s headquarters to the revamped site from its current premises in Easton less than a mile away.
Muhammad, a former community pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur, is best known for developing Titan, a patient medication record (PMR) software system which in 2019 became the first cloud-based medicine dispensing platform to be accredited by the NHS.
Titan has been adopted by around 1000 pharmacies and has also been approved for use in remote rural dispensing surgeries; managing nearly 12 per cent of all prescriptions in the UK.
Traiq Muhammad recently unveiled his plans for the former pub at a meeting held at Stapleton Church – photo: TurnTheTables
With 50 employees currently at Invatech, the company has sets it sights on rapid growth with plans to double its workforce in the coming years.
Muhammad described the feedback from residents at a recent meeting as “constructive” and welcomed the opportunity to engage with the local community.
“It’s time to do something positive with the building,” he said. “I’m excited about breathing new life into this corner of Stapleton.
“As well as becoming our new head office, I want the building to serve as a cornerstone of the community – with an independently run cafe where people can come together and connect.
“For Invatech, we are rapidly outgrowing our current site. Rather than relocating to a business park or city centre, I want to stay within the community and help create jobs for local people.”
He added: “I expect our team to grow from 50 to 100 staff in the coming years. They deserve a hi-tech centre where we can maximise our innovations, showcase them to customers and stakeholders, and put Eastville on the map for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The former Merchants Arms on Averay Road could be converted into eco-offices, a community coffee shop and nine residential flats
Eastville councillor Lorraine Francis said: “Over the years, this building has become something of an eyesore – no longer viable as a pub and with no practical redevelopment proposals.
“I’m delighted to hear Tariq’s plans to create a space for new jobs, relocate a successful local business, and establish a feature the whole community can enjoy.”
A planning application is expected to be submitted in the coming months.
Main photo: Turn The Tables
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