'Eyesore' empty shop could become pub

The premises has been empty for almost five years

A town centre "eyesore" that has lain empty for almost five years could soon be turned into a pub.

Cheltenham Borough Council has approved a premises licence for the former Sports Direct site in the Strand area of High Street.

The former shop has sat empty for almost five years and the front has badly deteriorated over time, placing the entire site under scrutiny.

But now the site could be given a new lease of life as a pub, opening until the early hours.

Amber Taverns Limited asked for permission to sell alcohol there and for it to be consumed on the site.

It also sought permission to allow film, live music, and dance to be allowed from 10:00 until midnight Sunday to Thursday and from 10:00 to 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The application sought permission to provide late night refreshment from Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 24:00 and from 11:00 to 0:100 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The premises opening hours applied for are from 10:00 until 00:30 from Sunday to Thursday and on Fridays and Saturdays it will be from 10:00 until 01:30.

Amber Taverns Ltd also wanted permission to open for an extra hour on New Year's Eve, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and the Thursday before Good Friday and the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each bank holiday weekend as well as on St Patrick’s and St David’s Day.

A planning application to change the use of the site from retail to a drinking establishment was approved in April.