Full planning permission is being sought to convert and extend a public house on Adlington Road to create a restaurant, much to the disapproval of some locals.
The proposal, submitted on behalf of Hickory's Smokehouse, is to change the use of the Unicorn Inn, which is part of the Chef & Brewer chain, from A4 to Class A3. The scheme includes a single storey extension to the rear and an enhanced outdoor seating area.
The existing building, which lies within the Green Belt, does not provide sufficient internal or external accommodation to enable the Hickory's business model to be implemented. Therefore, they are proposing to extend the building to the rear to allow the creation of different internal and external dining areas that are designed to appeal to, and cater for the needs of, families and adults. The extension will also facilitate the provision of Hickory's open plan back of house areas.
The external layout of the site will largely remain as existing, with the restaurant located on the Adlington Road frontage and the car park to the rear. However, the external layout of the rear of the building will change because of the extension and enhancement of the existing external patio area.
The appearance of the restaurant from Adlington Road will also largely remain as existing. However, some trees and vegetation will be removed and replaced with new landscaping and boundary treatments and an enclosed bin storage area will be provided.
A couple of the pub's regular customers have set up an online petition calling for The Spirit Group to keep the Unicorn as a traditional pub and not turn it into an American BBQ restaurant.
Steve Cummings and his wife have been patrons of the Unicorn for around 11 years now.
He commented "This traditional country pub is close to the hearts of the community in which it sits.
"A faceless, soulless, so called, "Smokehouse" is not what an area like Wilmslow, Handforth and Woodford needs. There is no requirement for an establishment with a children's soft play area, a restaurant serving mass-produced "smokehouse" burgers, curly fries and American bottled beers. These type of establishments are far better suited to a city or town location, not in the middle of the Cheshire countryside. It's simply not in-keeping with the local environs."
The aim of Hickory's, which currently has branches in Chester, West Kirby and Rhos-on-Sea, is to bring a taste of the US barbecue belt to their restaurants using the American Smokers they imported from Memphis, Tennessee.
A spokesperson for Spirit Pub Company said: "We are currently investigating a number of potential business opportunities for the Unicorn, as we are in the very early stages it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time. We would like to reassure all guests that, until further notice, it is business as usual at the pub."
The plans can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 14/5873M. The last date for submitting comments is 9th February and a decision is expected to be made by 9th February.
This application will be considered at a meeting of Wilmslow Town Council's planning committee on Monday, 26th January. Full details are in the events calendar.
Comments
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It would be nice to have a change of some sort,to give residents another choice ..... Otherwise ( tongue in cheek...) you could just build a few houses there, its only round the corner from the much scribed Adlington Rd development !!
It used to be a great local pub but for far too long it has been a soul less, half empty place with less than average food. Surely a proper pub, along the lines of The Bulls Head in Mobberley, with good food, real fires and a nice outdoor area would attract far more of the locals and others back to the place than a TGI Fridays style theme pub?
Currently, the road becomes one way only. It's busy at the best of times and next to a garage, with in/out vehicles joining both sides of the road.
And the land on the other side of the garage recently for sale perhaps is now sold. The 'for sale' is no longer there. More vehicles? Who has bought it from CEC and what for? Then there is the abandoned Scofields garden centre just around the corner, more housing? And the other fields on Adlington Rd.
I guess that Spirit know what they are doing. A USA theme seems inappropriate for the current local customer base. An investment for several hundred more houses?
I have submitted an objection to CEC planning dept, hoping that the cellar entrance can be moved to the back.
In the Wirral they have put a hickorys in an old pub, in a Wilmslow type town and its rammed, lets think about others for a change rather than our own nimby self interest.
Think of the jobs to be created, not only staffing the restaurant, but builders and other tradesmen to get it revamped, think of the increase in tax revenue for local business rates, vat and income tax.
Why does it matter if this building operates as an American diner, pub or whatever??? It does not matter what type of licensed premise it is as long as its being run well.
Run as part of a pubco hasn't really helped its fortunes: I'd say that it's been more successful in recent months despite the lack of support from the pubco.
For regular visitors to the Unicorn, the beer choice and quality has improved and showcases regular beers from some of our quality local micro-brewers. This doesn't mean a lot to pinot grigio, prosecco and lager drinkers but these small breweries employ local people. So that's what's happening: a local pub helping the local economy.
What can happen is that the business flourishes for a while. Then should it fail, who steps in? McDonalds? One of those ever-changing Indian-style restaurants? Another mini-supermarket? The trouble is that it probably will never become a pub again.
Take a look at the successes. Coach and Four. Plough and Flail. Bull in Mobberley. Not a smoked burger in sight.
Change of use from public house (A4) to rest/café (A3) and proposed building extension will be considered tonight (Mon 26th) by WTC planning committee at 7.30pm in the Wilmslow Parish Hall, Cliff Rd.
The Unicorn is a traditional English country pub selling good food and good real ales. Supporting local business and is much loved by many of us. Having been a public house since at least the early 1800's it deserves to be a "destination pub" which, if the current manager had her way it would be. I genuinely do not believe that a Hickory's Smokehouse, serving American style food and beers, with a kids play area, milkshakes and a pop-corn machine will survive more that six months in that location, leaving us with nothing but a site for more housing.
The application includes for the front door to become an emergency exit with all visitor gaining access at the rear.This means that pedestrians,including those in wheelchairs,will have to use the existing vehicular access.This is curved with restricted sightlines and is barely wide enough to allow vehicles to pass.A guarded path about Im wide needs to be include for safe passage
of pedestrians which will result in a single lane for vehicles requiring a signalling and control system.
When in exit mode vehicles wishing to enter will have to wait on Adlington Road thereby causing more congestion.
It's always packed out every time you go, you can't get a table on a Saturday night unless you book weeks in advance.
It's not a big chain like GBK or McDonald's, the food is outstanding and the atmosphere is great.
Wilmslow has the opportunity to be the first restaurant this side of the M56 but the chances of it happening are going to be ruined by a few who are desperately holding on to a glimmer of hope that the pub will turn itself around. It won't so it's time for something new that will get people excited and be just 7 days a week.