By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A village butcher’s shop that closed due to unsustainable costs could become a cocktail bar under new plans.
The Elms Farm butcher’s shop in Main Street, East Leake, shut in April after three years.
Plans have now been submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council to transform the vacant building into a wine and cocktail bar.
Jenny Brown, a partner for Elms Farms, said produce is still sold from a nearby shop, but explained the butcher’s shop was unsustainable.
“It was due to costs and lack of use by people coming into the shop,” she said.
“So it did not pay to have it, it was not supported enough.
“We took the shop on to keep a butchers in the village, we did that for three years.”
Mr Gurpavandeep Nahal, the applicant for the bar, said it will prove “a welcome addition to an already thriving village location”.
Planning documents say the opening hours would be be 12pm until 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and 12.30pm to 11pm on Sundays.
The establishment would cater for a maximum of 40 to 50 people internally and 20 to 30 people in an outdoor area at the front.
“East Leake has three public houses locally, The Three Horseshoes on Brookside, The Nags Head further down Main Street and until recently The Bulls Head that has turned into a Gastro pub and restaurant,” documents say.
“The proposed wine and cocktail bar would lend itself to the thriving little community in this small village hub.
“The proposal for the change of use to a wine and cocktail bar will have no additions or extensions added to the existing shop to the ground floor area, only a reconfiguration to the internal layout.
“The exterior will remain as is, with updated signage and a window to match the pizza shop next door.
“There will be an external awning added to the frontage that is wound in and out to provide cover to the planned seating area to the frontage.
“The seating will be movable, so will be stored inside the bar when not in use.”
The plans are now subject to approval by Rushcliffe Borough Council at a later date.
