Historic hall set to be turned into gastropub

A HALL that is more than 100 years old will be turned into a gastropub and restaurant.

Alderley Park Limited has been given permission to convert a conference centre in Nether Alderley, just outside Macclesfield.

The venue is in the Tenants’ Hall, at Alderley Hall, which dates back to 1901.

Under the conditions of planning permission, granted by Cheshire East Council, the premises will be able to open until 11pm - and 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

It is the latest step in the transformation of the natural sciences campus after it was sold by AstraZeneca in 2014. There will also be 46 car parking spaces, 10 cycle spaces and landscaping provided with the development.

As part of consultation on the application a spokesman for Nether Alderley Parish Council said: “There is wholehearted support from all Nether Alderley residents, including the residents of Alderley Park, for a pub to be opened once again in Nether Alderley and for it to be a ‘straight forward’ gastropub rather than a high-end restaurant.”

The Tenants’ Hall was built at Alderley Park House in 1901 and is one of only two parts of the old house that remain following a fire in 1931 and demolition two years later.

Plans for a restaurant were included in the 2015 masterplan for Alderley Park and in later planning applications for the campus.

The land is sat within Cheshire East’s green belt, but it is earmarked for development in the council’s local plan.

Wider plans for Alderley Park - which were approved by the council in 2016 - include up to 38,000sq m of laboratory or office space, up to 275 new homes, a hotel and shops.