![\"Businessman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_TCBR140425MerchantsPubBRI.jpg\")
Businessman Tariq Muhammad with the former Merchants Arms pub in Eastville(Image: Invatech)<\/p>\nIt is passed by thousands of drivers every day on the M32 but has been empty for eight yearsBusinessman Tariq Muhammad with the former Merchants Arms pub in Eastville(Image: Invatech)<\/p>\n
A businessman has unveiled plans to move the headquarters of his health tech company to an empty pub building in Stapleton, and said he wants to double the size of the company in the next few years.<\/p>\n
Tariq Muhammad is the boss of Invatech Health, which employs around 50 people and is currently based in Stapleton Road in Easton<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now the businessman, who also plans to create a new block of flats at the end of East Street in Bedminster<\/a>, has presented plans for the old Merchants Arms pub to the community on the edge of Eastville and Stapleton.<\/p>\n More than 30 local residents, including ward councillor Lorraine Francis (Green, Eastville) attended the public meeting at Stapleton Church Hall last week, where Mr Muhammad presented his plans.<\/p>\n The large pub building is on a big site in the shadow of the M32 flyover on the corner of Averay Road and Bell Hill. It closed as a pub in 2016, and has lain empty and unused ever since.<\/p>\n Mr Muhammad wants to convert the building with a \u2018stylish new facade\u2019, and the inside converted into \u2018eco-offices\u2019 alongside a community coffee shop and nine flats.<\/p>\n His firm Invatech Health is currently based three-quarters of a mile further down the M32, on Stapleton Road in Easton. He said the firm has grown rapidly since its latest product was launched five years ago and now employs 50 staff.<\/p>\n Sign up to receive daily news updates and breaking news alerts straight to your inbox for free here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr Muhammad said he bought the Merchants Arms three years ago. \u201cIt\u2019s time to do something positive with the building, and I\u2019m excited about breathing new life into this corner of Stapleton,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs well as becoming our new head offices I want the building to become a cornerstone of the community, with an independently run caf\u00e9 where people can come and meet.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Invatech, we are rapidly outgrowing our current site and, rather than moving to a business park or somewhere in the city centre, I want to remain in the community and provide jobs for local people.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m expecting us to grow from 50 to 100 staff over the next few years and they deserve a hi-tech centre where we can maximise our innovations, show them off to customers and stakeholders, and put Eastville on the map in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve already been a catalyst for positive change in Stapleton Road, creating an area around our current offices which is popular with young families. Now I\u2019d like to do the same thing in this part of town, creating a stunning new building which the community can be proud of,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Mr Muhammad is also behind the plans to create around 60 \u2018co-living\u2019 homes in a six-storey building above what was the HSBC bank on the corner of East Street and Cannon Street in Bedminster.<\/p>\n The plans also include a move and expansion for a local dentist surgery, and also takes in what is currently the site of Bedminster Pharmacy and also an empty William Hill bookmakers.<\/p>\n Bristol Live first unveiled the plans back in June 2023<\/a>, and the expansion of a new health hub in March 2024<\/a>. Councillors gave that scheme planning permission in September last year<\/a>, and Mr Muhammad said work on that development won\u2019t begin now until next year.<\/p>\n The scheme for the old Merchants pub has been backed by Cllr Francis. \u201cOver the years this building has become something of an eyesore \u2013 not viable as a pub and with no practical scheme for the development of the site,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m delighted to hear Tariq\u2019s plans to create a location for new jobs, the relocation of a successful business and a feature which the whole community can enjoy,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Join Bristol Live\u2019s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.<\/p>\n Through the app, we\u2019ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select \u2018Join Community\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_Merchants-ArmsJPG.jpg\")
The Merchants Arms, next to the M32 in Stapleton, pictured in 2016, just before it closed(Image: Google Maps)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744476931_129_0_WhatsApp-Phone.jpg\")
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