Plans for new cafe bar on Trafford Road

I would have grave reservations about this planning application as we have many difficulties with parking along that stretch anyway. Where would customers be able to park?

I agree, it's pretty busy parking there right now whatever time of day you go. Parking outside the dentists is hopeless at the best of times so people just abandon their cars. Also to be honest, the village doesn't really need anymore places to eat & drink surely.

This isn't about what the village needs, it never is; this is about what is profitable and more likely to stay afloat in particularly challenging trading conditions. These days Alderley (and many other places, Knutsford springs to mind) can only sustain eating and drinking places. Rents are exorbitant for such tiny villages with limited footfall. The Post Office next to Jeeves is to let at £25,000 p/a, while this unit is offered at £15,000.

People retain this romanticised view of a lovely village with lovely unique shops. Said unique shops, however, must be patronised by an awful lot of people, every day, all the time, in order to break even, let alone become profitable for their owners. Every time an independent store goes under the news is met with cries of 'sad days for Alderley Edge' but... when was the last time anyone bought anything from such stores? How about the one now taken over by Timpson (I believe) which used to sell tacky costume jewellery? Did anyone buy anything there?

The Bubble Room (or Gusto or Yara or... fill in the blank) has no probs with being profitable because they offer what people want. People who patronise Alderley don't want tacky accessories, cheap-looking rags, or throne-like armchairs that don't fit through the front door. They want to eat, drink and socialise (mainly, although they also buy the odd wedding dress and flowers, have beauty treatments and their hair done).

As for parking, this place isn't gonna attract 500 extra cars every night. Patrons will redistribute themselves across all eating places as has always been the case every time a new place opened in the village. Remember last year when so many people asked in anger, 'Do we need another supermarket in the village?'. We merely did not know we needed it, as Waitrose is obviously thriving.

Good post Steph....time to lose the rose tinted specs people.

Brilliant post Steph. All summed up nicely.

I completely agree with Steph on this point. The most important thing is to keep this village thriving and the easiest way to do this is by playing to its strengths.

I agree - good post Steph. Unfortunately the retail market/high street is changing and the village needs to adapt otherwise we will be left with vacant units. I know which I'd rather see.

Remember this will be a licenced premises.
Where it is located it is not suitable. I know on London Road the rent and business rates are high but it's not a good reason to put a bar next to residential property at Trafford Road. Would you like a bar to open in your street?

PS: I don't live near there, so I'm not bias about this!

As far as I can tell, all the pubs/bars/restaurants in Alderley are already in very close proximity to residential property.

Steve, I know but allow pubs/bars/restaurants move further into residential streets ain't good for local families! Lets be honest, do you want them to move to your street?

if it were as family friendly coffee shop / tea house like 'Fruitcake' then I'm in full support but not for a Licenced Premises.

As a family man, I'm 100% against it! I don't even live near Trafford Road.

I understand your concerns Ricky but Fruitcake wasn't really viable...you don't make money from mothers using your premises as a creche whilst they nurse a latte for 3 hours!

The Drum and Monkey is surrounded by residential properties as was the Royal Oak, as is the Cricket Club, DeTrafford and many other licensed establishments. I can't see that this location is any different to say No.15 or whatever the new name is. To reverse any bias, I actually grew up next to one of these and would move back in an instant. I agree that more family friendly establishments are required, but families need to support them. At the moment (unfortunately) there is a lot of demand for this type of user in the village.