News: Spotlight on Maltby High Street
Work is underway to convert a large vacant former retail store in Rotherham.
Operators of Drinks & Ink, an independent bar in Maltby, has taken on the unit at the heart of the High Stree that was previously The Original Factory Shop (TOFS).
TOFS, which took over from The Co-op, has closed all its stores since entering administration. A planning applicaion and premises licence have recently been submitted that would bring the 9,000 sq ft unit back to life as a new licensed bar and restaurant.
Owners say that they are aiming to create another space for music, snooker, pool and darts, in addition to creating a new area for an events room to move all the live entertainment and functions from Drinks & Ink to the new venue which is set to be called The Spotlight Bar.
The planning application states: "The applicant is also the owner and manager of Drinks & ink located at 86 High Street Maltby which has enjoyed huge success since opening in late 2024 with its live entertainment and quiz nights proving particularly popular. As such they are rapidly outgrowing their current premises and see the larger premises at 102 High Street as being better suited to serve the local and wider community as a live entertainment, games and events venue going forward.
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"Should this change of use be granted then these activities will predominantly shift from Drinks & Ink to the new premises allowing Drinks & Ink to provide a quieter and more sociable environment."
The opening hours would be 9am-1am, seven days a week to allow for extended opening hours at weekends, bank holidays and other non-standard opening times such as new year’s eve. In reality the opening hours will be less than this (Typically 9am to 12pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1am Friday to Sunday).
Proposals also include work to make the large car park safe with new lighting and CCTV. The applicant said that the car park of approximately 60 parking spaces in total would remain free to use for all High Street business customers and staff.
If approved, the new bar would create eight jobs - a mix of full time and part time posts.
The application adds: "Maltby High Street continues to struggle to replace businesses leaving the area with vacant units leading to neglected premises, prolific littering and anti-social behaviour. Buoyed by the success of Drinks and Ink and local optimism surrounding the ongoing Pride in Place Programme, the applicant believes that this change of use, if granted, will provide an opportunity to address this High Street decline by bringing another vacant unit back in to use as well as remove local uncertainty as to the future of the town’s main car park."
Drinks & Ink facebook page
Images: Brackenridge Hanson Tate
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Operators of Drinks & Ink, an independent bar in Maltby, has taken on the unit at the heart of the High Stree that was previously The Original Factory Shop (TOFS).
TOFS, which took over from The Co-op, has closed all its stores since entering administration. A planning applicaion and premises licence have recently been submitted that would bring the 9,000 sq ft unit back to life as a new licensed bar and restaurant.
Owners say that they are aiming to create another space for music, snooker, pool and darts, in addition to creating a new area for an events room to move all the live entertainment and functions from Drinks & Ink to the new venue which is set to be called The Spotlight Bar.
The planning application states: "The applicant is also the owner and manager of Drinks & ink located at 86 High Street Maltby which has enjoyed huge success since opening in late 2024 with its live entertainment and quiz nights proving particularly popular. As such they are rapidly outgrowing their current premises and see the larger premises at 102 High Street as being better suited to serve the local and wider community as a live entertainment, games and events venue going forward.
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"Should this change of use be granted then these activities will predominantly shift from Drinks & Ink to the new premises allowing Drinks & Ink to provide a quieter and more sociable environment."
The opening hours would be 9am-1am, seven days a week to allow for extended opening hours at weekends, bank holidays and other non-standard opening times such as new year’s eve. In reality the opening hours will be less than this (Typically 9am to 12pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1am Friday to Sunday).
Proposals also include work to make the large car park safe with new lighting and CCTV. The applicant said that the car park of approximately 60 parking spaces in total would remain free to use for all High Street business customers and staff.
If approved, the new bar would create eight jobs - a mix of full time and part time posts.
The application adds: "Maltby High Street continues to struggle to replace businesses leaving the area with vacant units leading to neglected premises, prolific littering and anti-social behaviour. Buoyed by the success of Drinks and Ink and local optimism surrounding the ongoing Pride in Place Programme, the applicant believes that this change of use, if granted, will provide an opportunity to address this High Street decline by bringing another vacant unit back in to use as well as remove local uncertainty as to the future of the town’s main car park."
Drinks & Ink facebook page
Images: Brackenridge Hanson Tate
