Plans to turn former Chesterfield newsgagent into coffee shop selling alcohol

The Birdcage is set to replace Alan’s Corner Shop, which kept Derby Road residents in newspapers, magazines and sweets before closing the shutters for good in March 2019.

Now the new plans, which will be considered by planners at Chesterfield Borough Council, will see the 50m sq shop turned into a coffee shop.

Earlier this year, the venue applied for a premises licence to sell alcohol.

A message posted in the window of the venue and addressed to ‘neighbours’ appeared earlier this year, and said: “We have been made aware of your concerns regarding the opening of The Birdcage Coffee Shop.

“Please let me reassure you that the new coffee shop will take into consideration our surrounding neighbours.

“We are opening a licensed café and not a bar, music will be for background purposes only.”

The business’ application for a licence said it will ensure all staff are fully trained, ‘already intoxicated’ people will not be served and quiet notices will be put up at the venue.

Proposed opening hours are from 7am until 11pm, seven days a week.

Former owner Alan Baston told us when the newsagent closed that he was looking forward to ‘a lie in’ after decades of 4am starts.

He said: “I’ve had some fantastic customers over the years, some of whom have become really good friends.”