August 6 2025

A storm-damaged Dundee pub, shuttered since 2021, is to be reborn as a dual convenience store and bar in response to shifting market demands.

The Charlie Bar on Charleston Drive suffered extensive roof damage during Storm Arwen, a double whammy on the back of the pandemic from which it never recovered.

LJRH Architects propose to head off potential demolition by reinstating the property as a diversified commercial premises, introducing a shop on the upper ground floor while reinstating the pub in a former function suite below. This will solidify the area as a walkable neighbourhood, encourage social interactions and improve kerb appeal with an upgraded raised platform in front of the building.

In a planning statement, the applicant wrote: "The hospitality sector has faced significant challenges in recent years. Rising operational costs, increased competition from supermarkets and off-sale retailers, and the lasting impact of Covid-19 restrictions have all contributed to this decline, leading to the closure of multiple pubs across Dundee.

"Given these circumstances, the new owner has determined that operating the Charlie Bar as a two storey pub is no longer sustainable. Instead, they propose to repurpose part of the premises as a convenience store to better serve the needs of the local residents and businesses."

In recent years the Menzieshill area of the city has lost two public houses; the Jimmy Shand Pub and the Rock Pub, both formerly located on Dickson Avenue.  

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