Plans have been submitted to subdivide the former WH Smith’s unit at Star City in Nechells, Birmingham, into two units to provide homes for a café/restaurant and a fast food venue. The unit has been empty since 2019.
Mowchi: Far East Asian-inspired café
Mowchi, which bills itself as a ‘Far East Asian-inspired minimalist café redefining coffee and matcha’, will take up one half of Unit 14, close to the main circular hub where Vue, the bowling alleys and new karting centre are. As well as coffees, matcha and bubble teas, the venue will also sell rice bowls, bao buns, and fries including Korean (with Gochujang sauce, mayo, sesame seeds & chives) and Cheeki (with cheese, sriracha, fried onions, sesame seeds & chives) versions. They will also have sweet sandos on the menu – a Japanese-style sandwich with crème brûlée and summer fruit versions. Mowchi will be opening its first Midlands outlet and already has venues in London – Aldgate, Camden, East Ham and Mile End in London, Lakeside in Essex and Canterbury in Kent.
Wingstop: US chicken wing chain
Alongside Mowchi will be a Wingstop – a nationwide chain which focuses on fried buffalo chicken wings. Wingstop hails from Texas in the US but now has outlets worldwide and across the UK, with two already in the Second City at the Bullring and New Street and others in Merry Hill in Dudley and Coventry. Wingstop sells wings, tenders, burgers, boneless chicken, seasoned sides, loaded fries, milkshakes and more.
Planning application details
In a letter accompanying the application, planning consultancy Quod said: “In this instance the proposals seek to facilitate the occupation of inactive floorspace within Unit 14, which has been vacant since 2019 following the termination of WH Smiths tenancy, who operated only from the left-hand side of the unit with the remainder as void space. The external alterations will provide a new shopfront access to form two units, 14A and 14B. Unit 14A will be occupied by a café/restaurant (Mowchi) and Unit 14B by a restaurant (Wingstop). These proposals will further strengthen the established leisure offer at Star City bringing back into economic use inactive floorspace and respond directly to market interest to occupy the site.”
Broader developments at Star City
Quod cited plans for a new family entertainment venue, SuperPark, set to bring the former Genting Casino back to life, along with a new neighbouring Chuck E. Cheese restaurant and its new go-karting venture next to the long-established bowling alley. The two new units would have glazed fronts, a manual swing entrance door and side guard rails to serve Unit 14B (Wingstop). The application, number 2026/03402/PA, is in a public consultation period until Monday, August 10.
