New Restaurant Plan For Greenock Town Centre Moves Ahead

Greenock based investment firm P&C Partnership want to lease out the building to businesses looking for a town centre trading location, with Bowman Rebecchi retained by the owners to support the letting of the site.

At a licensing board meeting, their representatives told members the venture would support the local economy and bring jobs to the area. 

Solicitor Peter Lawson, representing the firm, said:

"The owners believe this is an opportunity to boost economic activity, and with the current lockdown, this is what we are all hoping for.

"The plans are very much for a restaurant and not for a large bar, which would not be welcomed.

"With the size of the building, there is an opportunity to support 20 to 30 jobs.

"Crucially though, this is a generic licence, which makes it more attractive to prospective tenants.

"They would have to come back to the board, so the board would retain control."

Board member Councillor Chris Curley questioned whether there would be alcohol-only sales.

But Mr Lawson replied:

"With the size of the property, it would be very unlikely."

There was no objection from the new Police Scotland divisional commander David Duncan about the application as long as it met local licensing regulations on children and young people, and rules regarding alcohol deliveries.

Following deliberation in private, the licence was granted to P&C, with the condition that they adhere fully to the Inverclyde licensing authority's rules on children and young people.

When Cathcart House - which formerly houses the council planning department - went on the market for at least £155,000 a number of years ago, it sparked a flurry of interest.

Captain Street-based company P&C were granted planning permission to convert the B-listed former council office building last year. 

A series of applications were submitted to change the use of the ground floor of the building from office space to a restaurant.

They lodged separate applications for a change of use to a public house and a shop on the same floor.

This also involved the creation of a new escape route and a change of access for the office space on the above floor.

For further details, images, 360-degree tour and floorplans of the site, click here.

This article appeared in the Greenock Telegraph.