New restaurant planned for former Squire Knott site

The site of the former Squire Knott pub on Yorkshire Street in Oldham. Image courtesy of Google Street View

The former ‘Squire Knott’ Wetherspoons pub on Yorkshire Street in Oldham town centre could be transformed into a new restaurant with a glass covered rooftop terrace.

The pub has been vacant for the past year, but a new planning application could revive the site.

Submitted by Ibrahim M Rasul, on behalf of Istanbull Restaurant Ltd, the proposal would see a covered rooftop restaurant built on the first floor, changes to the inside of the site, and a revamp of the front of the building.

A design and access statement submitted to Oldham Council outlined the full changes new owners hope to make to breathe life back into the former pub.

It stated that ‘the covered roof top the restaurant would complement the ground floor restaurant which would create a vibrant environment for people to enjoy’.

In conclusion, it stated that ‘it is considered that the proposed use of the property as restaurant is appropriate and sustainable within the district centre, in compliance with the objectives of the national and local policies.”

Access to the restaurant would be via a York Street door on the ground floor leading to a stair leading on to the first floor.

The restaurant would remain open for business seven days a week between 11am to 11pm, Monday to Saturday and 11am to 9pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

JD Wetherspoon sold the site, at 55-57 Yorkshire Street, for £435,000 in November, 2017.

A consultation on the proposal is underway, with a decision expected by the end of March.

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