New owners are lined up to take over the iconic The Coronation pub in a further boost to the burgeoning ‘Market Quarter’ in Southport.
The pub, on King Street in Southport town centre, closed its doors last year and was put on the market with Fitton Estates for £450,000.
The venue is opposite Southport Market, which earlier this month opened its doors to the public as a new food, drink and events facility following a stunning £1.4million transformation.
The market features 10 food outlets serving food from around the world, with a large feature bar in the centre.
Since work began on the market, German Doner Kebab has pledged to invest £500,000 in redeveloping the former McDonald’s building on the corner of King Street and Market Street, creating 30 new jobs. The building had been vacant since 2014.
The new Season Coffee, Bar and Kitchen on King Street, next door to The Coronation, is due to open soon.
And now The Coronation is officially Under Offer, as the potential new owners head towards completion.
It is not yet known what their plans are for this substantial three-storey pub site.
But planning permission has been granted for a change of use with the ground floor to retain bar / leisure unit and a new self-contained retail unit and for the first and second floors to be converted into 10 self-contained apartments.
The existing premises provides a large dining area with 70 covers, pool room and lounge
The upper floor currently comprises the owner’s accommodation with four bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, dining room, office and stores.
One of the Sefton Council’s ambitions of the Southport Market development was to attract more visitors and a greater footfall to the ‘Market Quarter’ of town which they hoped would act as a catalyst to giving a boost to existing local businesses in the area as well as attracting new businesses and new investment to fill the vacant units in the area.
Southport Town Deal provided £900,00 for the scheme with £500,000 from the Liverpool City Region.
Speaking to Stand Up For Southport earlier this month, Sefton Council Tourism Service Manager Mark Catherall said: “When we started this project, we said ‘how can we help to kickstart local business in Southport?’
“I think the new Southport Market will be a catalyst for a real Market Quarter.
“Since we began the Southport Market project, we have seen plans progressing for the former McDonald’s building, which has been empty for a number of years.
“We are seeing other premises nearby which have also been empty which are now being filled by great new independents.
“We want other businesses to move in, whether it’s new restaurants, cafes, cake shops, tattoo parlours or other ventures, and to make it a really thriving area.
“In 12 months time I believe we will be sitting here and seeing the Market Quarter in Southport as a very busy place to be.”
The Market Quarter is not alone among areas in the town centre which are enjoying a renewed sense of confidence, with serious investment being made in the wake of the Government’s £38.5million funding awarded to Southport.
That windfall has already supported the Southport BID project to create a ‘boulevard of light’ along Lord Street, with 300,000 lights installed by Southport firm IllumiDex UK Ltd.
Southport Town Deal also aims to create a new £75million Marine Lake Events Centre; a light show on the Marine Lake; and an ‘Enterprise Arcade’ in Crown Buildings, opposite Southport Market, to create new business incubator space, supporting Southport’s emerging creative, digital and tech sector.
Beales department store is due to open on Lord Street this August and building work is also taking place on a new Prestige Stay aparthotel with shops and a restaurant on Chapel Street, plus a new HQ for tech firm Techedia on Corporation Street creating 75 new jobs.
- For more Southport properties for sale visit Fitton Estates here.
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