The Charleston Nears Opening
Bakewell’s historic former bank is being transformed into The Charleston, a 1920s-inspired bar and restaurant featuring cocktails, live jazz, brasserie dining, courtyard seating and immersive all-day hospitality experiences.
A major new hospitality venue is set to open in the heart of Bakewell this summer, as independent operator Longbow Venues moves closer to launching The Charleston — a 1920s-inspired bar and restaurant inside the town’s former Royal Bank of Scotland building.
The ambitious £2.6 million project will transform the Grade II-listed sandstone property into an all-day dining and entertainment destination, combining Art Deco-inspired interiors, live music and late-night cocktails with brunch, coffee and modern brasserie dining.
Developed in partnership with Concorde BGW and landlord Coverland UK, the restoration preserves many of the building’s original architectural features, including ornate cornicing, high ceilings and tall sash windows, while introducing warm lighting and jazz-age styling intended to evoke the glamour of the 1920s.
Set across two floors, The Charleston will accommodate around 160 diners, alongside additional bar seating and a large outdoor courtyard for up to 90 guests. A standout feature of the venue will be “The Speakeasy” — a private dining room housed within the building’s original bank vault.
The concept has been designed to evolve throughout the day, beginning with speciality coffees, brunch dishes and lighter daytime dining before transitioning into an evening-led atmosphere centred around cocktails, French brasserie-inspired dishes and live jazz, soul and swing performances.
Highlights
- The Charleston will open in Bakewell during summer 2026
- Located inside the former Royal Bank of Scotland building
- £2.6 million investment by Longbow Venues and Coverland UK
- Inspired by 1920s jazz clubs and cocktail culture
- Features ground-floor bar and upstairs restaurant
- Seating for around 160 guests plus outdoor courtyard for 90 people
- Private dining room inside original bank vault named “The Speakeasy”
- Menus inspired by London, New York and Manchester dining scenes
- Live jazz, soul and swing performances planned daily
- Cocktail-led drinks menu including “High Society Spritzes”
- Expected to create around 60 local jobs
- Sixth venue in the Longbow Venues collection
- Restoration preserves original historic architectural features
- Designed as an all-day venue from coffee mornings to late-night dining
Expected brunch offerings include inventive dishes such as buttermilk chicken waffle sandwiches and avocado-based Gatsby-inspired plates, while evening menus will focus on refined classics prepared using locally sourced ingredients.
Cocktails will also form a key part of the venue’s identity, with a drinks menu featuring spritzes, classic serves and a revival of Cuvée Jean-Paul Rouge — a French wine previously associated with the former Aitch’s Wine Bar & Bistro, a much-loved Bakewell institution operated by founder Rob Hattersley’s family between 1982 and 2004.
Hattersley, founder of Longbow Venues, described the project as a personal milestone.
“Bringing this building back to life has been a personal mission,” he said. “I grew up in Bakewell, and it’s incredibly special to be restoring such a well-known building and giving it a new purpose as somewhere people can come together and enjoy.”
He added that The Charleston aims to recapture the atmosphere once associated with Aitch’s Wine Bar & Bistro — “that mix of energy, great food, warm hospitality and a bit of occasion” — while reimagining it for a modern audience.
General Manager Josh Butler said the venue’s changing pace throughout the day would be central to its appeal.
“You might come in for a coffee or brunch and it feels relaxed and easy. Come back later and it’s a completely different pace — more vibrant, busier, people settling in for the evening,” he said.
The Charleston is expected to create around 60 jobs locally and will become the sixth venue in the Longbow portfolio, which includes The Maynard, The George Hathersage and The Peacock at Rowsley.
The company has gained national recognition in recent years, including being named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for its workplace culture and employee wellbeing initiatives.
Longbow expects to take possession of the building in mid-June ahead of staff training and final preparations, with opening details and booking information due to be announced in the coming weeks.
Further updates can be found via The Charleston Bakewell and its social media channels.
