National clothing retailer Fat Face has submitted plans to open a store in Nantwich.
It wants to take over the former Ye Olde Vaults premises on Mill Street as it looks to expand the number of stores in Cheshire.
Fat Face Ltd, which has 200 stores in the UK, has employed designers Box of Frogs to look at how it would redevelop and redesign the three-storey 19th Century building.
Tiffany Michalski, of Box Of Frogs, said: “We have visited the site to ensure we understand the shop’s existing design and style, and many photographs of the site have been taken to enable us to evaluate our proposals within the context of the streetscape, and nature of the building.
“The shopfront is to be retained as existing with relevant repairs and renewal where appropriate. The shop already benefits from level access and the design.”
Other town centre retailers say they would welcome the arrival of Fat Face.
David Salt, who owns the neighbouring La Maison gift shop, said: “It would be a good addition to the town and will attract even more people into the area.”
Steve Lawson, owner of Nantwich Book Shop, in High Street, said: “The addition of a brand like Fat Face would be a positive one for the town. It is something different.”
The building has been running under a temporary licence under the name Retro for a couple of months and is advertised to run until January 3.
But some residents believe more should be done to maintain the premises as a public house.
Edward Leetham said: “The building has been advertised for sale for some time, but I believe more effort needs to be put into finding someone to take it on as a pub before a change of use is allowed.
“Nantwich has lost too many pubs in recent years and we cannot afford to let such a prominent town centre inn suffer the same fate.”
Public consultation on the plans runs until January 11. Cheshire East Council will make a decision on the application after that.
its good to hear that a major shopping chain is hoping tp come to Nantwich instead of possibly yet another charity shop, the town is full of charity shops, far too many.
With regard to the comment about it not been a pub and that far too many pubs are closing, yes that is quite true but how can pubs survive with the price of beers, lots of pubs only open on certain nights now because the business is not there, hence pubs closing. Its a nonsense to save a pub if the person running it cannot earn a living would Mr Leetham go in the pub every day?