Pub chain JD Wetherspoon submits bid for licence at Ormskirk town centre site to West Lancs council

Mar 14 2013 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

JD WETHERSPOON has applied to the council for licensing permission for a new pub in Ormskirk town centre.

In January, West Lancs council granted full planning permission for the pub chain to move into the two- storey Best DIY unit on Wheatsheaf Walk, behind Burscough Street.

Now the firm has applied for a premises licence so it can sell alcohol at the site.

Wetherspoons wants to sell alcohol between 8am and 12am Sunday to Wednesday and 8am to 1am Thursday to Saturday.

It wants to offer late night refreshment (hot food or hot drink ) up to 12am Sunday to Wednesday and to 1am Thursday to Sunday.

Interested parties can make representations over the bid to the council until Thursday, April 4.

When the plans for the site were announced in November, the pub chain revealed the £1m scheme would create around 40 jobs.

The pub would feature a 3,389sq ft customer area catering for up to 419 people on the ground floor, kitchen, back-of-house accommodation and a cellar.

A beer garden would be created in an outdoor first floor area and the interior would be renovated, while at the same time still “retaining the character” of the building.

A council spokesman said in January that planning permission was granted because the borough planner was satisfied the development complied with planning policies, as it would not have a detrimental impact on the vitality and viability of Ormskirk town centre, nor result in any loss of residential amenity.