Chester cocktail bar Slug and Lettuce gets go-ahead for 'refresh' plans
Plans rubber-stamped despite objection it's 'unsympathetic' to the 'history of this landmark street'
What the venue would look like after the 'refresh'(Image: Planning application)
A popular Chester city centre cocktail bar is set to undergo a "refresh" after its plans were rubber-stamped. The Slug and Lettuce on Bridge Street wants to revamp the outside of the Grade II listed venue with new signage, planters and awnings.
Both listed building and advertisement consent planning applications were submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council last year. The venue has been a mainstay of the city hospitality scene for more than 20 years.
Despite an objection from Chester Civic Trust who described the plans "as unsympathetic to the character and history of this landmark street", the applications have both been approved by the local authority. In a report recommending approval, case officer Luke Milligan states: "Chester Civic Trust objects to the proposal.
"They consider the scheme unsympathetic to the character and history of this landmark street within the historic city centre and conservation area. The Trust states that the proposals fail to respect the surrounding listed buildings or preserve or enhance the historic environment and therefore should not be approved in their current form. No other representations have been received."
The report adds: "The Conservation and Design Team advised that the fascia signage should incorporate a clear address to improve legibility and be more consistent with traditional forms of identification within the Chester City Conservation Area. They also commented that hand painted fascia signage would be preferable as it would better reflect the character of the listed building and represent an enhancement to its setting.
"Notwithstanding these preferences, they confirmed that the proposal as submitted would not result in harm to the listed building or the conservation area and therefore raised no objection. The proposed signage replaces existing modern signage of a similar scale and form with similar forms of external illumination through trough lighting. Within the context of Bridge Street's commercial frontage, the scheme appears proportionate, visually coherent and sympathetic.
"The fascia incorporates a clear address identifier, which is consistent with traditional expectations for identification on historic shopfronts. While a hand painted finish could provide a traditional enhancement, the absence of hand painting in this case does not give rise to harm to the listed building. The detailing proposed is modest in extent and sits comfortably within the prevailing, historic townscape.
"No evidence indicates that the proposal would materially harm the special interest of the listed building, nor the character and significance of the conservation area. In both cases, its character and appearance would at least be preserved."
The planning applications submitted on behalf of Stonegate Pub Group said: "As with all commercial hospitality and leisure facilities such as this, the applicant needs to continually refresh and enhance its customer offer and attraction at this public house, in order to remain commercially viable and the application proposals should be considered within this context."