Proposals to develop a former social club in Bristol into a new restaurant have been denied by Bristol City Council. The proposal would have seen the former social club, at 134B Church Road in Redfield, become a new restaurant which could seat 52 people.
St George Social Club was formerly a two-storey members-only club with a snooker hall on the ground floor and a bar and private meeting room on the upper floor according to a listing from Hollis Morgan, which confirmed the property was sold at auction in 2021. It was sold at auction for £305,000, after having an initial guide price of £200,000.
According to CAMRA, the club was over 100 years old and had closed on January 1, 2021. The planning application, submitted by “Lona Grillhouse” indicated that the opening hours were proposed as 10am to 11pm everyday of the week.
An officer report, which was released by Bristol City Council on November 6, cites a lack of detail regarding the noise and odour from the restaurant and how it would not adversely impact nearby residents. The decision added: “Insufficient information has been provided in respect of a noise impact assessment and an odour risk assessment for the development… to show that noise and odour from the proposed restaurant will not cause harm to neighbouring residents.”
Despite the building being acknowledged as being disused by the council officer, the report said: “The proposed change of use [from social club to restaurant] represents a loss of an existing community use. Little available information re when it was last used as such, nor what role it played in the local community or how it met the needs of local people, prior to its closing.”
The officer wrote in the report that whilst there is no objection to the application “in principle”, the limited information submitted, as well as the information which was submitted in regards to ventilation, is insufficient. The report added: “No extraction system is shown on the plans and the Odour & Noise Assessment only gives general information rather than any specific information as to the actual equipment to be installed.”
However, the report showed that if the restaurant was to have been granted permission, then six conditions would have been placed on the development. These were:
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Details of kitchen extraction and ventilation system (in guidance with a risk assessment) prior to installation
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An Odour Management Plan is submitted and approved prior to any development beginning
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The noise from plant and equipment shall be at least five decibels below background levels
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Refuse and recycling activities to only take place between 8am and 8pm Monday to Saturday
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Deliveries will only take place between 8am and 8pm Monday to Saturday
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The opening times would be restricted by the application [proposed as 10am to 11pm everyday]
The report revealed insight into the state of the former social club, which needs “considerable investment” to be brought back into use. The report added: “The building has been gutted and is currently partially open to the elements. The premises has not been listed as an asset of community value and there is no evidence of any community group or social venture that has expressed interest in the building.”
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