Brewery hopes to take over empty Stafford shop
A former charity shop will be converted into a bar in Stafford town centre, in a bid to enhance the area and clean up a 'shabby' building.
Award-winning brewery Slaters Ales have submitted plans to take over the former British Heart Foundation shop in Gaolgate Street, turning it into a craft beer establishment with an outdoor seating area.
If Stafford Borough Council give the green light, it will provide two full time and seven part time jobs.
The building used to be occupied by the British Heart Foundation charity shop but has been empty for about a year.
No one from the brewery was available to comment but their planning application reads: "The building at present has been used as a shop and is shabby.
"The aim of our works is to enhance the area with a cleaned up building that sits well with the other business in the area."
Councillor Christine Baron said: "If it is filling an empty space then it has got to be good, plus if you can bring a bit of life like that into town it might encourage more people to come in.
"The charity shop has been closed for quite a while now- about a year. If that it what people want then it is great."
Slater's Ales is a family-run establishment in Staffordshire that have been brewing since March 1995.
It was formerly known as Eccleshall Brewery which is where it used to be based before it moved to St Albans Road in Stafford in 2004 due to growing demand.
It has have won several awards over the last 12 years including West Midlands Beer of the Year three times winner with Bitter and Supreme. Supreme has also won Bronze in Best Bitter Category twice at Great British Beer Fest.
Last month it joined forces with Canalside Farm near Stafford to help it launch its own ale.
The council is yet to approve the plans.
