Plans to turn former restaurant in Wellingborough into drinking establishment

An application has been made for change of use so the former Chi Chis restaurant at 29-30 Sheep Street, Wellingborough, can be used as a drinking establishment.

The applicant is Rob Hart of Hart Family Brewers, which brews traditional English beers and has a brewery at a unit in The Embankment, Wellingborough.

A report about the plans, which will be discussed by Wellingborough Council’s planning committee tonight (Wednesday), state: “The application involves a change of use from a restaurant to a drinking establishment with no operational building works mentioned.

“The applicant has specified opening hours of 11:00 to 23:00 every day, and the business would employ two full-time and three part-time staff.”

The Grade 2 listed building with its thatched roof is owned by Wellingborough Council and was originally built as two houses.

It is currently vacant, although the building had been used for many years as a restaurant.

Documents submitted by Mr Hart as part of the application state: “We intend to use the premises as a public house and will, therefore, involve the receipt, storage and sale of alcoholic and other drinks as well as food.”
The recommendation by planning officers is for councillors to approve the plans subject to a number of conditions.

They will consider the application at tonight’s meeting, which starts at 7pm in the council chamber at Swanspool House, Wellingborough.