New Wigan restaurant to open in 2019

Elle R Leisure, the firm behind Albert’s in Manchester city centre, Worsley and Didsbury will takeover the former Beeches Hotel in Standish.

Other news: NHS row deepens over banWigan Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to approve the transformation bid that includes single storey extensions, increasing the site’s floor space by 25 per cent.

The Victorian villa, once part of the Standish Hall estate, has been closed since last year.

The plans will also see a larger car park at the School Lane location.

Members were told the designs were sympathetic to the main building and the extensions ‘would not compete’.

Elle R Leisure’s managing director James Ramsbottom said: “We wanted to retain the house because we saw it as something that is important to the heritage of Standish – even though it is not a listed building.”

Mr Ramsbottom has previously indicated work on the site could start later this year with a view to opening in late summer 2019.

Committee members were informed neighbours had raised concerns about the development’s impact on their privacy, in addition to noise and air pollution fears.

Officers said the site has an established use as a restaurant and hotel and the increase to the car park’s capacity ‘will remove the potential for on street parking problems in the area’.

Coun Janice Sharratt, committee member and Labour representative for Ince ward, said: “To my mind this is a good thing. One thing we do need back in Standish is an upmarket restaurant as the Beeches used to provide.

“I welcome this and the fact that it’s a good source of jobs for local people, I have no hesitation in proposing that we pass this.”

The plans include a private dining room, two function rooms and will see existing extensions to the two storey red-brick building demolished.