New late-night licenced cafe to open in old pharmacy in Greater Manchester

A former pharmacy has been granted permission to change its use to a licensed café.

The former Whitefield Pharmacy unit at Albert Place was the subject of an application for change of use by Manik Miah.

The applicant intends to serve food and alcoholic drinks from the premises with proposed opening hours of 9am-11pm.

A Bury Council officer’s report on the application, said: “The building was in use as a pharmacy, the applicant proposes to use the building for the sale of food and drink for consumption mainly on the premises.

“The applicant proposes to serve hot food and drink including the sale of alcohol.

“Food will be prepared off site in the adjacent unit and brought to the property.

“The food will include cooked breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

“Alcohol will be served with meals only and the café will have table service only.”

The report added that the permitted change of use from a pharmacy to the sale of food and drink would be lawful as both the uses fall within this same use class and as such would not constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission.

The application form stated that the pharmacy ceased operating as such in September 2021.

Bury Council approved the change of use on 2 February.