‘Prestige’ restaurant set to open in converted ‘engine shed’ next to heritage railway

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 15:18

By Chris Gee, Local Democracy Reporter

A historic engine shed building close to a heritage train line has been granted licence to operate as a railway themed restaurant. A council hearing heard an application sell alcohol at a new venture at the former railway goods shed on Rowlands Road, Summerseat, next to the Bury to Rawtenstall East Lancashire railway.

The Grade II-listed building was built in 1847, shortly after the line opened and contains a rare and working, hand-cranked crane. Planning permission for a change of use to a restaurant, applied for by Holcombe based Mala Cuisine Ltd, who operate several eateries locally, was granted in October last year.

The application for an alcohol licence requested permission to sell booze at the premises from noon until 11.30pm from Sunday to Thursday and noon until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. One written objection to the plans was considered by the licensing panel on April 24.

It stated: “The amount of traffic it will cause in the local area that already suffers with a high levels of traffic plus anti-social drivers speeding through Summerseat at all times of the day and night.

“Where The Engine Shed is located the road is also very narrow and not suited to high levels of traffic and waiting taxis on a very narrow road that
also has blind bend on the bridge. “I’m also concerned with potential for increased noise levels, loud music, and disturbances to residents in the surrounding area.”

The approved plans will retain the internal crane, as well as a mezzanine level.
The resturant’s car park would be to the south and west of the building.

A planning statement in support of the plans, said: “The current applicant could envisage a high quality restaurant, lifting the image from industrial to being a prestige development, suitable to employ a reasonably high number of employees.”

It added: “Themed with railway paraphernalia, links with the railway would be forged, encouraging train passengers to break their journey at Summerseat railway station to enjoy a meal in the engine shed. “Advertisements within East Lancs Railway literature could encourage passengers by the use of discount vouchers for customers using the railway as transport to the restaurant.”

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