Licensed bar converted to unlicensed café; storage space to commercial kitchen; rear porch demolished

Phoebe Dick and Hedda Dick have submitted a planning application to Leitrim County Council to change the use of the licensed bar at The Central on Main Street, Manorhamilton, into an unlicensed café and open‑plan social space. The proposal also seeks permission to convert an existing storage area into a commercial kitchen, relocate one window and one door on the building’s northwest elevation, and demolish the rear porch that currently fronts the property.

The site covers 0.085 hectares and contains 272 square metres of floor space. The application was received by the council on 20 May 2026 and is now under consideration. In line with council procedures, the file has been referred to external consultees, including the Heritage Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, for their advice on the proposed changes.

If approved, the licensed bar would cease to operate as a licensed premises and would instead function as a café that does not serve alcohol, alongside an open‑plan social area. The storage space would be re‑purposed to house a commercial kitchen, allowing the café to prepare and serve food on site. The relocation of a window and a door on the northwest side would be carried out to accommodate the new layout, while the existing rear porch would be demolished to make way for the updated interior configuration.

The application does not yet include details on the timing of any works or the cost of the proposed alterations. The council’s planning officers are currently reviewing the submission and will consider the referrals from the Heritage Council and NPWS before a decision is made.

The proposal reflects a shift in the use of a historic building on Main Street, aiming to provide a new social venue for the Manorhamilton community. Residents and local businesses will be able to follow the progress of the application through the council’s planning portal.

For more details see the Leitrim County Council planning file.

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