The Daffodil, an iconic former cinema turned award-winning restaurant in Cheltenham, is back on the market years after its closure. The historic 1922 Art Deco building, situated prominently on Suffolk Parade, closed initially in 2022 due to difficulties following the pandemic. Although it briefly reopened for special events, it shut again in 2023 and now appears poised for residential transformation, having secured planning permission for such use.
The property was first listed for sale in 2024 and has returned to the market with a price of £1.6 million. ASH Chartered Surveyors, marketing the building, highlight its location in one of Cheltenham’s most admired and characterful districts. The Daffodil boasts a striking interior featuring a barrel-vaulted foyer with an arched ceiling, original Art Deco elements such as pendant light fittings, porthole mirrors, stained glass panels, and a distinctive twin curved staircase leading to a mezzanine gallery.
According to the sales material, the principal space is versatile, suitable for use as a restaurant, bar, or event venue across the ground and gallery levels. Additional back-of-house areas, preparation zones, and ancillary spaces are available on the ground and basement floors. The property is fitted with a commercial kitchen equipped with stainless steel preparation and cooking equipment, including overhead extraction canopies, cooking ranges, worktops, prep tables, and a dedicated wash-up area. Basement accommodation includes storage rooms and cold stores, alongside administrative offices and staff and customer WC facilities.
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The total space covers approximately 650.30 square metres. While the current planning permission allows for conversion into a residential property, the listing also refers to a proposed but as yet unsubmitted alternative scheme. This envisages the construction of two townhouses, three mews houses with communal areas, and two coach houses at the rear.
In addition to The Daffodil, ASH Chartered Surveyors is also marketing the neighbouring two-storey building, formerly part of The Daffodil and previously used as a deli. Priced at £200,000, this self-contained property holds residential consent and offers potential for various uses, subject to planning approval.
The sale of these properties presents a significant moment in the evolution of Cheltenham’s historic Suffolk Parade, creating uncertainty over the future of an architectural and cultural landmark that has long been part of the town’s identity.