The reopening of the former Stamford Arms in Bowdon has been further delayed after Trafford Council knocked back redevelopment plans for a second time.
The new owners, who bought the leasehold for The Firs pub earlier in the year, have been locked in negotiations with the council over an application to remodel the venue, which it is planning to reopen as The Stamford Kitchen & Tap Co.
The planning application would see the creation of a new roof terrace with retractable canopy and the installation of bi-fold doors.
But despite a set of amended plans that sought to quell noise pollution worries, the council remains concerned – particularly as the property falls within the Bowdon Conservation Area – and has now requested the owners provide an acoustic survey.
It all means that a decision will now not be made until November 10th.
Explaining the latest setback on their Facebook page, The Stamford said: “What we have asked for is to open up the old function room windows with the creation of a number of bifold doors around the curved timber structure (as we’re missing out on some amazing views and it will add much needed natural light to the space).
“Also as the old function room will become a dining space complete with open kitchen – not a fancy pants restaurant, but somewhere you can sit and eat your tea without worrying about whether someone’s going to spill their pint over you – we are planning to convert the old club room (and adjoining room) on the first floor to offer a function space with private bar and bathroom facilities. As part of this we have put in a small roof terrace for consideration with access from the first floor only to the back of the pub.
“The problem we seem to be having is obviously with putting doors in instead of sealed windows, noise can seep out from a venue and this can be a cause for concern to local residents. I understand this, however we have done everything within our power (including the last additional of a retractable roof to the roof terrace to close off later at night) to show that we will do our best to keep the noise to a minimum.
“Our frustrations are we seem to be up against previous complaints regarding this and surrounding commercial properties that unfortunately we can’t do much about.”
They added that they still hoped to ensure the pub reopened as “a fantastic community pub that hopefully everyone can be really proud to call their own”.
The new leaseholders are experienced restaurateurs Alex Bracken, Rhitu Parihar and Nicholas Theaker, who all work for Dubai-based hospitality company 4-Front Facilities Management. Theaker was previously the general manager of Simon Rimmer’s Earle restaurant in Hale before moving to take the same post at Rimmer’s The Scene restaurant in Dubai.
The deal they signed earlier in the year gives them a 10-year rolling lease on the property, which is owned by the Greene King brewery, with the automatic right to renew the lease when it expires.
