Despite Loungers’ licensing application being granted at a recent committee hearing and a planning application submitted, Loungers is no longer able to proceed with the transformation of this location.
Despite a marketing campaign, there has been no interest from religious institutions in purchasing the property.
Alex Kalebic, Head of Acquisitions, Loungers, says:
“We are incredibly disappointed but these legal complications just don’t make it possible for us to risk investing over £1m to open a Lounge on this site. We were excited about saving this beautiful historic building from falling further into disrepair and bringing it back to life for all to enjoy, as well as creating much needed employment for local people.
“Whilst a small number of local residents opposed the development, we were very grateful for the otherwise overwhelmingly positive support from the Cowes and wider Isle of Wight community. Rest assured; we are still keen to open a sister site to our popular Correo Lounge in Newport in this wonderful town at some point in the future and continue to look for other opportunities across the Isle of Wight as well.”
And so there we have it. ‘Legal Complications’ comes from nowhere, overtaking ‘More Employement’ and ‘Application Approval’ to win by a nose. Team NIMBY are delighted, with another fantastic win from the Luddite stables, jockeyed by ‘No Change Here’.
Delighted NIMBY here! You’d obviously be delighted with a bar only 1 metre from your home, so why don’t you suggest a building near to you for Loungers to develop? Because Cowes so desperately needs another bar/pub, doesn’t it?
You would be horrified if it turns into a mosque!
Very disrespectful turning a church into a pub.
I know it’s been done before in Newport, who
ever allowed that was a joker.