The Lounge’s plans to open a restaurant/bar in Haverhill would bring 40 new jobs

Councillors in Haverhill expressed support and enthusiasm for a national chain’s proposal to open a café/pub in the High Street - not least because it would provide about 40 new jobs.

As reported in the Haverhill Echo and its sister title, SuffolkNews, earlier this month Loungers UK Limited, has submitted a premises licence application for a new Lounge in High Street.

The building was previously occupied by Argos, but has stood empty since the retailer relocated to the Sainsbury’s store in Haverhill in 2018.

The licence sought is for alcohol sales off and on premises Monday to Sunday, 10am to midnight, and late refreshment (in/outdoors) Monday to Sunday, 11pm to 12.30am.

The premises licence and the proposal in general came up for discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Haverhill Town Council planning committee.

Cllr Paul Firman welcomed the idea, which, if the premises licence applied for is approved, would see the Lounge’s tables and chairs in Market Square on the agreed days and times.

He said “I think it could be great for the town.”

Cllr Mary Martin said: “I think it’s a marvellous thing. This building is deteriorating rapidly.

“As we look at it there are chunks falling off.

“I am really pleased that this is coming back into use.

“Overall I’m really pleased with it and I think it will give a buzz and it will give an uplift to the town and to the Market Square.”

Cllr Aaron Luccarini revealed that The Lounge was looking to recruit 40 full/part-time staff for the new café and that it would like to be open in October.

He said: “I was really excited and pleased that The Lounge was actually looking at Haverhill.

“In general I think it’s good news for Haverhill that you have big chains that are interested in the town.

“They are rapidly expanding across the country, a really successful restaurant chain.”

He added: “They are trying to be a community pub, slash café, so they will host things like mother and baby groups in there.

“I was in a Lounge in Lincolnshire a couple of weeks ago and they had a knitting club while I was in there, they’ve got community notice boards, they’ve got local charities, so I think it’s a really great business to have in the town and it will offer something for everyone. It’s not just a pub.”

In Suffolk, The Lounge has Edmundo in Bury St Edmunds, Potro in Newmarket and Prado in Sudbury.