The owners of 1886 bar in Regent Street, Douglas, are seeking to expand its floorspace to help meet demand.

In their application (20/00481/C), it is stated that they wish to take over the space formerly occupied by Herron’s Country Fried Chicken, which they also owned.

The application’s support document says that the extra floor area ’would make a huge difference to our business and help us greatly in these very, very, difficult trading times’.

In effect, the major change is that the owners would be removing an internal wall and move 1886’s stage into a space formerly occupied by the chicken shop.

The entrance door to the chicken shop would become an emergency exit and the only way into the building for customers would remain as the single main entrance on Regent Street.

In the support documents, it says: ’Since opening its doors in March 2019, 1886 Bar and Grill has proven to be a popular venue with the main bar on the ground floor being particularly busy.

’However, the incorporated takeaway venture, Herron’s, also located on the ground floor and linked through to the main bar by a doorway, has not experienced the same success.

’Therefore, the decision has been made to incorporate the floor area of the takeaway into the ground floor of 1886 in order to increase capacity of the bar to best serve its clientèle and improve facilities by providing a dedicated stage area for acts such as DJs and musicians.’

If approved, the owners say the changes will also help to ’open up potential areas of congestion’ in the bar.

The owners of 1886 have discussed the proposal with Sergeant Alan Shimmin of the police alcohol unit and Roger Brown from the fire servive’s fire safety department. Both are said to be supportive of the plan.