Sheldrakes restaurant and bar on Banks Road down by the shore has been around for as long as I can remember, has had its ups and downs, but now the downs are given as the reason it should be converted into a home.

Formally the application is summed up like this: "Change of use from restaurant and bar to a single residential dwelling house with minor external changes and internal alterations."

Amongst the internal alterations are a swimming pool, sauna and cinema.

The application argues for approval like this:

"Sheldrakes has been a successful location for a restaurant and function venue, particularly for weddings and during the summer months where it enjoys an idyllic location on the beach adjacent to the sailing club and footpath along the coastline.

"However during the winter months, the restaurant has struggled to be financially viable and, coupled with the dramatic impact of the COVID pandemic, the restaurant is becoming increasingly economically unviable.

"In addition, increased competition from the restaurants and bars in Heswall and a more recently opened coffee shop and café only metres away [YOT], have caused the venue to close for some lunch time and evening bookings mid-week, with the venue only viable at weekends and summer months. During winter months even weekends are loss making."

The new home will have three or four bedrooms, while outside the existing side courtyard will provide parking spaces for two cars.