Rod and Gunn plan to open York store on former Jack Willis site

Rod and Gunn will begin trading at 18-20 Stonegate, located on the site of the former Kingdom of Sweets.

The Grade II-listed building has been vacant since the confectionery retailer closed, and before that clothing store Jack Wills occupied the site from 2009 to 2020.

Planning documents list Kingdom of Suites as the final tenant (Image: York City Council Planning) The new tenant's other UK stores include Glasgow, Edinburgh, Winchester and Bath, the latter three added last year to a portfolio that began with a flagship store operation on London's Conduit Street.

As previously reported in The Press, a listed building permit application for 18-20 Stonegate was submitted to York City Council in August last year, but the tenant was not disclosed.

A similar revised planning document currently being submitted to the city council by Rod and Gunn includes “widening of the existing opening at the front of the store” among the proposed additional works.

Plans include new decals and signage above entrance doors and windows (Image: York City Council Plans) They added that listed building permission has been granted to install a changing area at the rear of the ground floor for the retailer, with the document adding that the front of the store will be painted white.

A linked planning application to the council for displaying advertising also revealed plans for signage and a logo for panels to be hung above the front door and windows.

Consultation on the proposals closes on 6 February and applications 24/02334/ADV and 24/02335/LBC can be viewed on the York City Council planning portal.