Plans for a new bar and cafe in Coalville - creating a niche market micro bar selling cask beer - have been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council.

The application is for a change of use from a shop to a bar-and-cafe - called The Rock - at Meadow Lane.

Currently, the property at No 97 Meadow Lane is the Simmy's Convenience Store which is now closed and has been empty for six months.

A plan submitted by Richard Thomas, of Leicester's Blue Boar pub in Millstone Lane, Leicester, would see it undergo a conversion.

This includes the commissioning of a feature of granite around 500mm square and two metres high.

One face will be polished and on that face will be sculpted 'The Rock'.

It is intended as an 'old fashioned ale house'.

A letter from the agent, Conway Land Management Ltd of Shepshed, to the council explains more about the scheme.

It says: "The above property has been empty now for over six months and like all empty properties it is deteriorating.

"This proposal will bring it back into beneficial use at a time when the general retail market is undergoing serious structural change.

"In this location the community were served by the Forest Rock which is now offices, the Cocked Hat closed some years ago.

"The operator has two similar bars in Leicester both of which have won local acclaim with CAMRA and in one case been pub of the year for the last three years.

"The directly comparable one is known as The Ale Stone and that has a café element which until Covid struck opened at 8 am and served as a meeting spot for drinks and snacks to the mums on the return from taking the children to school.

"This proposal is to create a niche market micro bar selling cask beers which it is fair to say do not fit the needs of the wider drinks market.

"This is combined with a café serving hot food and drinks which again will perform a community function generating a meeting place which does not currently exist.

"The opening times at the outset would be 8am till 5pm for the café element Monday to Friday with the openings possibly extending to 8pm on Friday and Saturday.

"The bar element would open 4pm to 11pm Monday to Friday and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11am to 11pm.

"The name chosen for this bar is "The Rock" which follows the former local name for the Forest Rock at the end of Meadow Lane which closed some years ago.

"On the submission drawing a feature is shown located on the pedestrian area to the front of the bar.

"The intention is to commission a feature carved out of a piece of granite being some 500mm square and 2 mtrs high. One face will be polished and on that face will be sculpted "The Rock ".

"No music will be provided in the bar and no slot machines either. The two other bars operate the same policy and the intention is to follow them and create an old fashioned ale house.

"The Alestone has proved to serve the local community well and is a regular meeting place for nearby residents.

"The Rock can perform the same function in terms of serving the local community.

"The product offer differs from the big chains and that difference generates a loyal customer following.

"The café presents an opportunity for mums to socialise either after the school walk or following a shopping trip to the post office or the Co-op.

"It also provides a lunch opportunity where there is currently nothing on offer. There will be pensioners who will have the opportunity to meet up with friends and enjoy a lunch together.

"The submission represents an opportunity to bring a closed retail premises back to life and make a meaningful contribution to the social well being of the community."