A PLAN has been approved to convert an empty former antiques shop in Amblecote into a coffee lounge and micro bar.
Planning permission has been granted for a change of use of the former Memory Lane Antiques shop in Brettell Lane into a new venue called The Glass Blower.
The ground floor of the former shop will be turned a coffee lounge/micro bar with servery, food preparation area, beer store and WC.
A new roof and brickwork will be added to the existing single storey rear extension and the rear yard will be reconfigured to provide a patio and garden area, with bin and cycle stores accommodated.
The plan, which was approved on August 7, also includes installation of a gate to provide maintenance access from the existing access running between the site and Arena Hairdressing to the rear garden.
Access to the existing first floor flat will be retained along with the existing shop front fascia, with replacement timber display windows installed within the front elevation.
A council planning officer’s report states: “It is noted that the application property has been vacant since 2020, and bringing this unit back into use would enhance the retail function and vitality of the centre which weighs in favour of the development.
“In the balance of considerations, the proposal would bring investment, promoting the vitality and viability of the centre. As such, it is considered this change of use is acceptable in principle subject to the satisfaction of all relevant material planning considerations.”
It adds that “local residents would not be detrimentally affected by the proposal”.
The proposed opening hours are: 9.30am to 9.30pm Sunday to Wednesday and 9.30am to 11pm Thursdays to Saturdays.
The venue will need to secure a premises licence under The Licensing Act 2003 in order to sell alcohol.
Applicant Mitchell Bolton, landlord of the Hare & Hounds in Wollescote, said he hopes to open the new venture in mid to late October.
After announcing the plans on Facebook, he said he’d been “absolutely flabbergasted” at the love and support shown for The Glass Blower, named as a nod to the area’s glass heritage, and he added: “It genuinely means a lot to me and I really can’t wait to welcome you all.”
He said the venue will act as a much-needed coffee shop for Amblecote during the daytime, selling cakes, sandwiches and paninis and it will specialise in craft beers.
He told the News: “We’ve already had messages from independent breweries eager for us to stock their products and that’s great. We’re not looking to market a traditional pint of Carling. “We’re trying to be a little bit different.”
And he added: “I think the majority of local people are quite happy to see something being done with the place that’s been an eyesore for so long.”
He said the building is “quite an old property and it’s got a lot of character” with mostly cosmetic work needed to transform it into a new venue for the community.
To help with the transformation, he’s appealing for memorabilia such as old photographs and newspaper cuttings related to the glass industry which he hopes to use to decorate the venue.
Anyone who might have any old photographs/cuttings can contact Mitchell by emailing theglassbloweramblecote@gmail.com
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