Plans to open book shop and café in former William Hill betting shop in Bispham
“The proposed business will provide coffee, cakes and other café refreshments for consumption primarily on the premises.”
A former betting shop in the heart of Bispham high street could become a combined café and bookshop, if plans get the go ahead.
A planning application has been lodged with Blackpool Council for a change of use of the old William Hill bookmakers outlet at 68 Red Bank Road into an actual book seller and café.
It is proposed by the applicants to give the new amenity the catchy name ‘Leaves and Lattes Book Café’.
There are already separate proposals to turn the vacant former Ex-Catalogue Discount Outlet nextdoor into a restaurant, in what is an already vibrant food and drink area.
A Design and Access Statement in support of the application states: “The proposed business will provide coffee, cakes and other café refreshments for consumption primarily on the premises, together with the sale and loan of books.
“The premises is a former betting shop occupying a corner position at Red Bank Road and Warbreck Drive.
“The building forms part of a mixed commercial/residential frontage, with a residential flat at first floor.
“The ground floor premises contains existing customer toilets, including an accessible WC, together with a rear staff area.
“The proposal makes use of the existing building with minimal external intervention. The principal visual change is the repainting of the existing fascia in sage green with the Leaves and Lattes identity.”
The principal café space would be arranged with bookcases along the Warbreck Drive wall and a centralised electric fireplace with a fire guard.
Four 2 -seater sofas would be arranged along the opposite wall, with bistro tables in the central seating area.
A service counter would include cake display, and a coffee machine.
Existing toilet facilities, including the accessible toilet and the staff area, would be retained, along with the existing accessible toilet provision.
The outdoor seating proposal is designed so that the doorway and neighbouring doorway remains unobstructed.
The residential flat above, 322 Warbreck Drive, will remain unchanged and is not part of the proposed change of use.
The application was submitted on August 24 and is currently pending consideration.