he owner of a formerly popular public house in Lower Withington is attempting to turn its fortunes around by obtaining planning permission for “flexible commercial” use following stalled attempts to revive the site as a restaurant and retail unit.
The pub — known historically as The Old Pub and The Black Swan, and more recently as The Trap — is located on Trap Street, and although referred to as a pub, it mainly operated as a restaurant, with food sales “consistently outpacing” alcohol sales, said the planning application.
At one point it was listed as an asset of community value but has now lost this status.
Adam Bower, director of Flobo Ltd and former general manager of the Black Swan, said he had witnessed the decline in trade first-hand.
In the planning application, he said that earlier efforts to revitalise the business included hosting wedding breakfasts and offering gastro pub-style dining, had left the venture still operating at a loss.
A 2018 planning application to redevelop the site into three residential units was refused.
In 2016, we reported the pub had closed after serving its last orders. It had only re-opened in September 2012 following a £500,000 refurbishment.
It was reported on an industry website that the owner of the pub hoped to attract female clientele by utilising floral prints to create a lighter atmosphere.
Flobo said it purchased the property in 2020 and carried out “modest” refurbishments to restore its pub character.
The pandemic further impacted the business, and food sales increasingly dominated.
The site was previously listed as an asset of community value but was removed from Cheshire East Council’s register in July 2022.
The venue closed for refurbishment in June 2024 following planning approval for internal and external alterations granted in October 2023.
Although building work is now complete, the kitchen and bar areas remain unfinished “to allow flexibility for future tenants”.
The property has been marketed as licensed premises since July 2024 through Hallams Property Consultants and other platforms, but interest “has stalled due to planning constraints,” said the latest planning application.
A previous planning consent allowed the change of use from a public house with food provision to a restaurant and retail unit but, despite this, no prospective tenants progressed an interest, citing delays in securing specific-use permissions.
The latest planning application aims to broaden the building’s appeal by allowing more flexible commercial use across both the main building and a covered external dining area.
Flobo said this would enable future tenants to operate a range of commercial activities — such as retail, leisure, or restaurant use — without requiring additional planning approvals.
The application said the plan would “help bring the vacant building back into use and maintain a local facility for residents”.
Proposed operating hours would be restricted to 8am–11pm daily, in line with the previous public house schedule.
