Ex-Royal British Legion club is set to become bistro
The former home of a Staffordshire ex-servicemen's club will be turned into a bar and bistro under plans announced today.
Pub firm Matco Holdings wants to open the drinks premises in the ground floor of the closed Royal British Legion Cannock branch in Stafford Road.
The company, which owns The Duck in Chadsmoor and The Lamb and Flag in Cannock, has submitted a planning application to Cannock Chase District Council.
The building was closed by the legion in July 2010, a year before the branch itself folded due to falling membership. It has since been targeted by metal thieves.
John Freeman, acting agent for Matco Holding, said: "The bistro would sell coffee, food and wine. I think the town could do with something like this, the site is near the bus station and there is nothing like this nearby.
"The company has done its homework and found potential for the planned bistro."
Under the plans, the bistro would take the ground floor of the derelict building, while two residential apartments would be built on the first floor.
In a supporting document with the planning application, the firm says a bistro could not support upkeep of the building on its own. It adds there is a high demand from couples and single people for small apartments in the town.Mr Freeman said: "This is an opportunity to reopen a building which has been closed for two years and has suffered vandalism and decay."
Matco Holding purchased the building from the Royal British Legion for around £125,000 earlier this year.Under plans to convert it, a front porch would be added on the building as well as a rear smoking area.
If approved by the council, work could start as early as next year, with opening next summer. Following the closure of the Cannock legion branch, former branch member Sheila Dunning, from Cannock Traders' Association, organises the town's annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony.
