PLANS have been lodged to turn a boarded up Ellesmere Port pub into a convenience store.

The proposal is to convert the Sir Robert pub in Great Sutton into a Heron Foods store, creating 15 jobs.

The last pint pulled at the Overpool Road premises was back in March last year prior to it being forced to temporarily shut due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the end of June, the pub's tenants announced that it would not be reopening despite the easing of lockdown measures, and confirmed they were leaving.

The pub, which dates back to the 1960s, has been permanently shut ever since.

Owners Red Oak Taverns Limited have submitted a planning application to Cheshire West and Chester Council to convert the pub into a convenience store, which would be occupied by Heron Foods.

In the application, put together on their behalf by CPC Ltd, it states that the Sir Robert is "no longer viable".

It cites a number of reasons for this, which include the fact there are no catering facilities and the pub relies solely on "wet sales", the costs of refurbishing the pub to address that are "prohibitive", and "it does not have a prominent location on a main road".

The application also states that "minimal operating profit" has been achieved, which they say is only the case because the rent paid by tenants has reduced by 75% since 2017.

Chester and District Standard: The proposed Heron Foods store plan for the Sir Robert pub.The proposed Heron Foods store plan for the Sir Robert pub.

Red Oak Taverns put up a 'to let' board in January 2020 but there has been "limited interest" and no offers made for the premises.

"There are thus a number of indicators which highlight that this is an unviable public house, which has been struggling for a number of years", the application states.

"The proposals would see the introduction of a new community facility on the site, in the form of a convenience store.

"The proposal will also provide full and part-time jobs for local people, over and above those provided in the public house presently, providing an economic boost to the area."

The proposed opening hours of the store are 8am-8pm, Monday to Saturday, and 8am-4pm on Sunday.