'ORNATE' YORKSHIRE CHAPEL TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO BAR WITH LIVE MUSIC
A historic chapel in Whitby town centre is set to be transformed into a bar and cafe featuring live music, following approval from North Yorkshire Council.
The Helmsley Brewing Company's proposal for Wesley Hall on Church Street, Whitby, to become a licensed venue with live music has been greenlit, despite facing objections from the public. The establishment is expected to operate from 10am to 11.30pm seven days a week, with permission to serve alcohol from midday until 11pm after securing "a license in principle".
The venue will not only offer drinks but also food, live music entertainment, and occasional film showings.
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Despite this, the council has denied the use of the outdoor area for seating due to eight objections from local residents, citing concerns over potential noise pollution and the lack of submitted soundproofing measures. Council officers have stipulated that the outdoor spaces cannot be used for "drinking, eating, smoking, other forms of congregation or other uses and activity at any time".
Furthermore, the internal mezzanine on the first floor and the roof space will remain off-limits to customers and visitors.
The former chapel, situated within the town's conservation area, boasts an "ornate frontage comprising two large, stained windows in arched brick frames, and a central arched stone formation". A council report has clarified that the proposed conversion will not necessitate changes to the building's internal or external structure.
Council officers have indicated that the project would "not result in adverse harm on the setting of nearby listed buildings, and would conserve the character of the conservation area".
The planning authority has stipulated several requirements, which encompass a prohibition on the use of the hall's rooflights while it is open for business, as well as a pre-commencement condition demanding a noise management plan due to the "intensity of the use and proximity of neighbouring residential properties".
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2025-02-16T04:11:42Z