This refurbished former bank building, known as Bank, occupies a prominent position at 26–28 High Street, Warwick, and is one of the town’s most iconic properties currently available for office use. Alternative uses, including retail or leisure, may also be considered.
Purpose-built in 1924 for the National Provincial Bank, the property dates from the golden age of banking architecture and features an elegant neo-Georgian design influenced by classical proportions. The building’s symmetrical exterior combines refined white stonework with red brick, creating a striking façade with a prominent entrance, large feature windows and ornamental stone detailing to the parapet roof.
Internally, the building retains an exceptional range of period features, including chequered slate and marble flooring, wood panelling and parquet floors. Decorative plaster cornicing and coving in the former banking hall and manager’s office accentuate the impressive nineteen-foot-high ceilings. A sympathetic extension has introduced internal balconies overlooking the ground floor, while a contemporary glass and steel mezzanine provides additional accommodation without compromising the building’s open and airy feel.
Large windows on three elevations flood the interior with natural daylight. Stairs lead down to the former bank’s vault, complete with its original door, now providing distinctive meeting rooms named Decimal (10) and Sterling (18), along with a drinks station.
The property would suit professional occupiers seeking an exceptionaly stylish and truly unique working environment in the heart of Warwick.
Location
The county town of Warwick sits upon the River Avon and has been inhabited since the 6th century. Warwick school lays claim to the oldest boys’ school in the country, founded circa 914. In medieval times town walls were erected, of which the East and Westgate can still be seen. Warwick Castle, built in 1068, by William the Conqueror, has evolved from fortress to country house to one of the UK’s leading tourist attractions. The Castle forms a perfect backdrop for outdoor concerts and events and boasts in excess of half a million visitors per annum. There are numerous other landmark buildings including Lord Leycester hospital.
The castle also now offers accommodation and glamping options means around 20,000 overnights stays a year just a couple of minutes from the property, with the potential of a significant tourist trade, in addition to growing local population of well over 30,000, with the town seeing many recent high-end housing developments. Nearby Stratford upon Avon makes the area a ‘must do’ for foreign tourists setting visitor figures for Warwickshire into the millions and one of the countries most visited locations outside the capital. The town’s tourist information centre is approximately 150 metres from the property.
The castle was strategically sited because of the transportation links offered by the River Avon and Fosse Way. Nowadays the Midland Motorway network, Birmingham Airport and Warwick and Warwick Parkway railway stations offer the modern day equivalent of convenient links across the country and to the capital. Warwick’s central location has attracted many high profile companies such as Bridgestone, Calor, IBM, Jet, The National Grid and Volvo UK with the county home to big name employers such as Aston Martin, Eon, JLR, Rolls Royce and TNT. Swan Street is the town’s main shopping street with National and Independent traders.
Warwick boasts a mixture of fine architecture from the Tudor period and the 17th century. The town’s historic buildings have featured in many period dramas, such as Pride and Prejudice, and together with the surrounding Warwickshire countryside formed an idyllic backdrop for the BBC series Dangerfield. The current TV series Shakespeare and Hathaway is also filmed in the town and Warwick Racecourse has a number of televised meetings throughout the year. There is a thriving Saturday market, regular farmers market and Market hall museum dates back to 1836. The University of Warwick is situated someway outside the town.
Accommodation
Ground Floor Former Banking Hall - Open plan reception and or office 680 sq ft, Ground Floor Former Managers Office 150 sq ft, Kitchen, Telephone Booth
Upper Ground Balcony 280 sq ft, Mezzanine 300 sq ft,
Lower Ground Washrooms, cleaners cupboard and boiler room
Vaults 1025 sq ft 18 place and 10 place meeting rooms plus tea station breakout area, Server Room and Store
1st Floor, 50 sq ft interview room, office or store.
Terms
New lease 3 or more years
Specification
Fully renovated former Bank building on multi-levels.