Former post office building set to be a restaurant

The Grand Post House was built in 1895, but has been largely closed since 2007

A Grade II-listed former post office that has been empty for more than 15 years is to get a new lease of life as a restaurant and function room.

Plans to reopen the former Grand Post House in Wolverhampton as an African restaurant and "ceremonial hall" have been approved by the city council.

The 129-year-old building in Lichfield Street was the area's head post office until the 1960s, and had been refurbished for the University of Wolverhampton, which used it until 2007.

It's latest re-development comes after more than 1,000 cannabis plants, worth about £1m, were found in 2022 by British Gas engineers in the building's cellar.

The revamp will include tidying up its exterior with broken windows replaced.

Details on the planning application state opening hours as 11:00 to 03:00 and drawings submitted show a hall and, as well as the restaurant, a bar and sitting room.

The ground floor will be converted into a kitchen and a lobby and toilets.

Student union

The applicant, Georgina Konadu, also owns Sweet Elohim Afro Market on the corner of Lichfield Street and Princess Street and Sweet Elohim Afro Resto on the corner of Lichfield Street and Fryer Street.

In 2014, the council had approved plans to convert much of the building into a new student union for the university, as well as provide a space for concerts, wedding receptions, conferences, fairs and exhibitions.

However, the work was never carried out and the building remained empty for a further decade.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.