Proposals to open a new pub on the site of a long-vacant former card shop on Lord Street in Southport town centre have been approved.
The pub will open in the former The Card Warehouse, at 451-453 Lord Street opposite Sainsbury’s supermarket.
The Card Warehouse closed its doors in 2018 and the unit has been empty since then.
Applicant Anthony Baird submitted a planning application to Sefton Council last year to convert the 68 square metre ground floor unit into a new public house. It would be in the trendy ‘Northern Quarter’ of the Lord Street area, which in recent years has seen a growth in stylish hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars.
A report by Sefton Council’s planning officers said: “The premises was previously in retail use (The Card Warehouse) but has been vacant since 2018.
“The proposal would see the ground floor of the premises used as a bar and the proposed opening hours would ensure that not only is this vacant unit brought back into use but would also provide activity during the day as well as up to 10pm.
“This would be a use compatible with the town centre location and would not undermine the overall retail function of the town centre.
The former Card Factory unit at 451-452 Lord Street in Southport
“The neighbouring uses comprise a variety of Use Class E Commercial uses and so this proposal would sit comfortably within that immediate character. The proposal would bring back into use a currently vacant premises and would therefore make a positive contribution to the overall vitality and viability of the centre.”
A number of conditions were included, which includes limiting the pening hours to 8am-10pm,preventing live music and entertainment at the premises, and limiting any recorded music to background music.
The applicants say they are proposing serving hot and cold drinks with light snacks produced cold or via a microwave.
Planning permission already exists for table eating outside.
In 2020, a planning application was submitted to Sefton Council to convert the upper floors of 447 to 453 Lord Street into 14 new apartments.
The proposals for the Grade II Listed buildings called for the creation of four studio apartments and 10 self-contained flats, within the Lord Street Conservation Area.
The four-storey buildings once housed the jewellery shop, David Robinson, at property numbers 447 to 449, with The Card Warehouse next door.
However, David Robinson Jewellers closed its doors in 2017 with The Card Warehouse leaving the following year.
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