Plans for wine bar in Hereford City Centre

A new wine bar and coffee shop is set to open in the heart of Hereford.

The bar, which would also sell bottles of wine, would replace the former Antique Tea Shop beside St Peter’s Church in the city’s St Peter’s Square, which closed last year.

While the planned use would not differ greatly from its former use, a planning application (number 243128) by Sion Harris, says that alcohol sales would render it a mixed-use development in planning terms, hence the need for planning approval – though it describes this as “a grey area”.

If approved, the proposed venue would create three full-time jobs and one part-time job, and would “secure benefits for both daytime use and the evening economy”, the application says.

It can be commented on until February 6.

The former owners of the shop said last year they were taking “semi-retirement” from the business after 14 years in the premises.

Mr Harris, who already runs the Hereford Beer House in nearby West Street, said he is aiming to open the wine bar in March – though the interior will first be “transformed”.