Cocktail bar planned for Bamber Bridge main street

A cocktail bar could be the next addition to Bamber Bridge’s main street as the hospitality industry emerges slowly from lockdown.
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Councillors will be urged to give the new venue their blessing when the scheme goes before the South Ribble planning committee tomorrow.

The bar, which will also serve coffee and snacks, is earmarked for a former carpet shop on Station Road, next door to micropub The Beer Box and across the road from the Withy Arms pub.

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Council officers have recommended it should be approved, subject to conditions, although no application has been made for outdoor seating to join Bamber Bridge’s growing “pavement cafe culture” movement.

The empty shop unit is earmarked to become a cocktail bar.The empty shop unit is earmarked to become a cocktail bar.
The empty shop unit is earmarked to become a cocktail bar.

The venture would add to the food and drink offer around the busy junction of Station Road, Collins Road and Brownedge Lane, which also boasts food takeaways.

Council officers believe a cocktail bar would not have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area nor on neighbouring properties.

In a report they say: “Due to the impact of the Covid pandemic on the hospitality industry, it is considered that this proposed development will add to the vitality and viability of an established parade of shops/hot food takeaways and drinking establishments at Bamber Bridge and also increase the night time economy.”

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In the application, owner Chris Walker said: “There is already a bar next door and we are hoping to work together with him and the one across the road to improve the social aspect of the area and therefore bring more people and revenue to pre-existing local businesses.”

Councillors are being recommended to approve the same times as The Beer Box (noon-11.30 Monday to Friday, noon to midnight on Saturday and noon to 11pm Sunday).

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