Brewery giant Whitbread is seeking permission for its £6 million Premier Inn hotel in Keswick to stay open for consumption of alcoholic drinks until 1am seven days a week.
The 71-bedroom hotel is scheduled to open its doors by spring or summer 2022 on the vacant site of the former Ravensfield care home at High Hill after controversial plans were approved last month.
A 3,300-name petition opposed the hotel plan, as did Keswick Town Council unanimously, before the Lake District National Park Authority’s development control committee voted 8-2 to support it.
Now, the Bedfordshire-based Whitbread Group, which owns the Premier Inn chain, is applying to Allerdale Borough Council for a premises licence to provide food and drink at the hotel.
The licence, if approved, will also allow two gaming machines.
The opening hours being sought for the hotel’s ground floor bar and restaurant for the sale of alcohol are 10am to 12.30am Monday to Sunday.
The licensed premises would have to close to the general public 30 minutes later.
“It is not anticipated that the proposed development will adversely affect crime and disorder or public nuisance,” says Whitbread in its written application to Allerdale.
The matter was due to be discussed by Keswick Town Council at its monthly meeting last Thursday.
The hotel, which will create 30 jobs, will be the first belonging to a national chain to open in Keswick.
Many local B&B and guest house owners attended a packed public meeting earlier this year in the town to oppose the plan. Parking and traffic were among the main concerns, with the hotel having only 29 on-site spaces for cars.
