PLANS have been drawn up to convert a recently-closed restaurant into hotel rooms.

Micklehead Green restaurant closed its doors in July this year after its owner set out proposals to close 112 "lower-performing" venues across the country.

Earlier this year Premier Inn owner Whitbread had announced proposals to cut around 1,500 jobs across the UK amid plans to slash its chain of branded restaurants by more than 200 in favour of building more hotel rooms.

Whitbread said the move is part of a plan to “optimise” its food and drink offering to add more than 3,500 hotel rooms across its estate and increase “operational efficiencies”.

Whitbread said it plans to sell 126 of its less profitable branded restaurants, and convert 112 restaurants into new hotel rooms.

The Micklehead Beefeater restaurant in St Helens which operated next door to Premier Inn South on Eurolink is to be turned into extra hotel rooms, the plans have revealed.

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A planning application has been submitted for a change of use from a restaurant to hotel accommodation, with a breakfast room and external alterations.

Plans also seek to add a two-storey side extension to the hotel in addition.

A cover letter in the proposals, drawn up by agents Walsingham Planning on behalf of Whitbread, says the company "has identified a considerable demand for additional accommodation at its Premier Inn St Helens hotel."

Plans state the hotel extension "would provide a further 37 additional hotel bedrooms across both floors of the existing hotel building and would be designed to replicate the appearance of the existing premises".

Meanwhile, the conversion of the Micklehead restaurant site would "provide an additional 15 hotel bedrooms at ground floor level and a breakfast room" adding "this provision ensures that the size retains a food and beverage offering, albeit in a revised location and configuration on site".

Plans add the development "would deliver a total amount of 52 hotel bedrooms on site which would increase the total capacity to 92 hotel bedrooms".

Parking capacity at the site would remain at 124 spaces.

The planning application is on standard consultation until Thursday, October 17, with a decision expected by November 5. 

 

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of St Helens. Please get in touch at simon.mulligan@newsquest.co.uk