Plans to convert an historical pub in Dean Row into an American barbecue restaurant have been withdrawn.
Hickory's Smokehouse applied to extend the Unicorn Inn on Adlington Road and convert its use from A4 (drinking establishment) to A3 (restaurant).
However, last week the company withdrew their planning application.
This news has been welcomed by a group of local residents who set up a 'Save the Unicorn' campaign, collecting over 1000 signatures on their petition.
Steve Cummings, a commercial pilot from Tudor Green, has been running the campaign with fellow patron Brian Geddes.
He told wilmslow.co.uk "We have been working hard for the last several months exploring various ways in which we can prevent Hickory's Smokehouse from taking over the Unicorn and destroying another traditional English pub.
"We have had a few successes along the way. Achieving a listing in the Historic Environment Record, having Wilmslow Town Council planning committee agree to re-list the planning application for discussion and eventually having them agree to overturn their initial decision and recommend rejection of the application.
"However, the biggest step forward that we have made was the announcement that Cheshire East have agreed to list the Pub as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). Under the Governments Localism Act of 2011, communities have the right to apply for such a listing for specific types of "community asset". Local pubs are amongst the most popular locations to be included in this list. We are very pleased to say that the Unicorn is only the sixth pub to achieve this status in Cheshire East."
Steve added "The level of local support has been fantastic, people do not want a Hickory's Smokehouse to replace their local traditional pub. We hope that Spirit Group see sense and select and alternative offer. We know they have at least one.
"Should Hickory's decide to submit an alternative planning application the local community can rest assured that we will continue to fight it as hard as possible."
Hickory's Smokehouse, who have restaurants in Chester, West Kirby and Rhos-on-Sea in North Wales, have been keen to dispel concerns that the new bar and restaurant would not cater for the needs of the local community.
Speaking back in March, The Hickory's team, who all live in Cheshire, said they are "passionate about maintaining the integrity of the original building, parts of which date back to the 1800's, whilst improving disability access and increasing indoor dining and outdoor seating capacity significantly".
Hickory's describe their food as Southern style country cuisine which is served with a selection of local ales and American craft beers. Their plans also included installing multiple screens to show live sport from football to rugby and NFL action.
The planning application from Hickory's Smokehouse came a year after Simon Kalton put together plans to refurbish the pub, keeping the footprint the same and with a traditional feel. His company Kalton and Barlow run four pubs in the area, including the Ship Inn in Styal which they acquired from The Spirit Group.
We are currently waiting for Hickory's Smokehouse to confirm why they withdrew this planning application and whether they intend to submit a revised one.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I, for one, don't get into the pub nearly enough.
Sadly, that goes for most pubs for me: I don't get the opportunity...
or it will join the growing list of closures very soon.
We visit Hickorys in West Kirby often as easy to pop in for a drink after we have walked the dogs on the beach.
I hope this isn't the end of their plans to open in Wilmslow - it would be such a shame.
I've also visited a couple of the Hickory's pubs in the last year or so. Really great service, good local ale and one of the best rib-eye steaks I've ever had.
I'm just happy someone is prepared to take a risk and invest money outside of Manchester..
This could be a case of 'be careful what you wish for'...
When the Unicorn goes the same way as other failing pubs in this country and closes for good, I wouldn't want to be the person that has to stand up and say "I stopped Hickory's opening here".
It would take a very brave and energetic couple indeed to risk so much on this place.
You could easily find yourself working a staggering amount of hours every week, for less than minimum wage.
All that said, I'm still a bit confused about the idea that the pub would actually vanish...
I went to a Hickory's just after Christmas. I had a full English breakfast, a pint of real ale, read the free newspapers and watched the racing on a big screen TV with my brother.
Now, we've been going to pubs together for forty-odd years and Hickory's didn't exactly strike us as a Florida beach bar!
The article makes it quite clear that Kalton and Barlow are interested in running it in such a manner and have been for some two years and were on the cusp of agreeing a deal with the Spirit group.
With their success at the Ship in Styal,The Dog in Over Peover and their other two establishments,I feel confident that after a total refurbishment,but
with very little internal change and without any enormous extensions impinging on the Green Belt and the Area of Special County Value,they would be equally successful at the Unicorn.
Steve Savage's comment is correct as Spirit have not spent any money on the Unicorn for several years but are now rumoured to be investing £500k on the Swan in Wilmslow.
However,this highly indebted Pubco is about to be taken over by Green King,hopefully for the better.
Probably the most ruthless plc. Pubco ever, they are certainly no strangers to closing large numbers of failing pubs.
They serve their shareholders, (currently trading at 829.50), not real-ale drinkers.
Sadly, the best one could hope for under Greene King is that they open one of their fabulous Hungry Horse chain places... I've seen them next to garages before.
As the kids would say... OMG
To put a 'large agricultural building' (Hickory's words) on the back of this historic pub, with a roof line comparable to the main building, would have created an eyesore for local residents such as myself.
What we want is something akin to the Farmers Arms in Poynton or the Ship Inn in Styal - is that too much to ask?
Good food, good drinks and good surroundings obviously works in the local area and people will come. All it takes is a little investment to create the right place, however it would appear that Spirit Group are determined to try and run this pub into the ground. After all moving on a successful Manager who you have rewarded with an all expenses trip to Dubai for turning round the business - is hardly good business sense is it? Surely the man should have been allowed to stay at the Unicorn and continue his good work?
The photograph at the head of this piece is a classic example of sympathetic rural new-build at its very finest...
You will immediately notice how the huge illuminated yellow shell blends seamlessly with its rustic surroundings, as the red neon fuel prices burn their mocking message into the eyes and minds of locals and weary travellers alike.
One is also struck by the bold, nay courageous use of colourful plastic and steel. Nothing too agricultural here, thank you very much.
As a chap who has retired to the countryside myself, I for one remain ever vigilant against the outbreak of an eyesore.
There are many comments, both on here and the old Wilmslow Advertiser, which went on about the food, the setting, the decor... Go back again and get truly immersed in a proper country pub. It sells a good mix of nationally-famous real ales as well as many from our richly-represented local area (we have 14 micro-breweries within 10 mile radius of Wilmslow).
Go and try some - you might like them. they don't bite and are generally cheaper per pint than many nationally-recognized mass-produced beers (ahem!) such as Carling and Becks Vier
If a Hickory had opened as a family destination, then how often would families re-visit it? It would've been an expensive once-a-few-weeks treat.
Long may the unicorn continue to trade as a country pub.