Planners have approved a bid to convert a former post office into a restaurant, bar and take away.

The former Crown post office in Regent Street, Douglas, was bought by James Thompson, of Thompson Holdings Ltd for £1.05m with designs to convert it into a cocktail bar, restaurant and fast food restaurant and take-away.

Planners dismissed concerns raised by the tenants of the Admiral House hotel which shares an alley with the building about ’noise, dust and smell from the site’ and traffic generated by the development’.

Planning officer Owen Gore stated: ’The proposal would not unacceptably harm the characteristics of the existing building or the character of its surroundings.

'The proposed development would not result in a significant adverse impact upon the living conditions of neighbouring residents.’

The company applied (18/00369/B) for alterations to the Victorian building, built in 1886, to accommodate the change of use.

The ground floor will feature open seating at the front of snacks and drinks, a bar and areas for ’formal dining’ and private dining.

The restaurant will continue on the mezzanine floor, which will also house the kitchen.

The first floor will include a cocktail music lounge bar.

And there will be function rooms on the second floor.

The smoking area will be on the roof.

In evidence provided to the planners, the opening times are 11am to 1am for the bar areas and midday to 9pm for the main restaurant, seven days a week.

The fast food restaurant would stay open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

This will see Heron Country Chicken move from its current location in Victoria Street.

Mr Thompson, who moved to the island four years ago from Northern Ireland, has previously said: ’The Manx people are such fabulous people and that is why I also want to continue to invest in the community.

When this story first appeared online, it was stated that it was the owner of Admiral House who had raised concerns with the development. Concerns about the proposed works were raised by the tenants Admiral House Hotel and not by the owner of the building as previously stated.

We apologise for the error and are happy to set the record straight.