Restaurant resumes battle to keep Covid atrium

The Eating Inn Steakhouse in South Shore has submitted a fresh planning application for the extension

A restaurant is resuming its battle to save a glazed atrium after planners ruled it was "detrimental" to views along the Blackpool seafront.

The Eating Inn Steakhouse in South Shore, Blackpool, has submitted a fresh planning application for the extension after previous proposals were thrown out by Blackpool Council.

The eatery built the fully-glazed canopy on its forecourt during the Covid pandemic but wants to keep it in place to meet demand for tables.

A revised application states that the structure has been improved and fits in with the existing buildings.

'Strategic views'

"Changes to the structure have taken place since the original planning application and the structure now has a solid roof, more in keeping to the materials of the host building," the application said.

The Eating Inn, which is located on the Promenade between Waterloo Road and Rawcliffe Street, is a long-standing family business in the town, situated in one of the main holiday areas.

The application said the scheme “represents a high quality improvement to an existing building frontage".

It added: "Great expense has gone into creating a simplistic and modern glazed extension that enhances the corporate identity of the business and increases kerb appeal to passing trade, which makes up around 90% of the business’s turnover."

It added the modern materials are comparable to those used in the design of other prominent seafront buildings such as Festival House and The Spyglass Bar "all of which positively contribute to the regeneration of the borough".

The first application was refused in June 2023 by council planners using delegated powers.

A report said the extension was "out of place" and "also has a detrimental impact on strategic views along the Promenade and seafront".