Mystery surrounds new restaurant and bar coming to Blackpool
“The latest closing times would be approximately midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, subject to special occasions”
A new restaurant and bar could be coming to Blackpool – but there are few additional details at this stage.
A planning application has been lodged with Blackpool Council’s planners for a change of use of the ground floor from a florist to a restaurant and ancillary bar at 294 Devonshire Road.
The premises were previously used by Flower Scentsations, a florist business which has since relocated to Fleetwood Market.
The application form submitted with the proposals does not give details of the applicant at this stage.
It states that although there are no plans for a takeaway, that would remain an “ancillary” possibility. It also says the restauranbt would operate “as quietly as possible”.
A supporting statement on behalf of the applicants argues that new classification on use class of a building, implemented from 2020, effectively means that no development of the property would be taking place, hence the proposals would require only a Certificate of Lawfulness instead of full-scale planning consent.
It says: “The primary purpose of the proposed ground floor use is ‘for the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises’.
“The food and drink operations are not intended to be a late-night experience, the latest closing times would be approximately 11:30pm Sundays to Thursday and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, subject to seasonal alterations and special occasions.
“There is no immediate intention to include a take-away element, but such a facility would always be ancillary to the primary food and drink use within Class E(b).
“Acknowledging the proximity of the neighbours both above the premises, and those on Waverley Avenue, the proposed Desi kitchen restaurant would operate as quietly as possible.”
The statement adds: “The reclassification from September 1 2020, would have placed the retail use of the premises within the newly formed Use Class E, specifically Class E(a), this being a use ‘for the display or retail sale of goods, other than hot food, principally to visiting members of the public’.
“Article 3 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) provides that where the use of a building or other land within Class E changes to a use for any other purpose within the same class it is not to be taken to involve the development of the land.”