The popular Cricketers Arms in St Helens has received planning permission for a single-storey side extension that will provide additional indoor seating, an enlarged bar and a new area dedicated to live music and craft beer.
What the scheme involves
The extension will be built on the footprint of an existing events bar and the current external smoking area. It will extend approximately 5.9 metres from the pub’s side elevation and run 11.6 metres in length, incorporating a roof lantern and finished to match the pub’s front and side elevations.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Extension type | Single-storey side extension (replacement of events bar) |
| Depth | 5.9m |
| Length | 11.6m |
| New seating | 60 capacity in the Vinyl Tap and Boundary Room |
New offering and local impact
Landlord Andy Evans, who together with his wife Denise has run the pub since 2013, plans to create a music-orientated space branded as the Vinyl Tap and Boundary Room. The area is intended to cater for live music, vinyl-focused events and an expanded craft-beer selection, including small-batch imports and limited-edition kegs.
- Increased indoor capacity and a larger bar area for customers.
- New space aimed at music lovers and craft-beer enthusiasts.
- Matching external finish to retain the building’s character.
Planning conditions and neighbourhood considerations
St Helens Council assessed the application against considerations including the appearance of the site, effects on neighbours and parking. The Planning Department concluded the development would not have an adverse impact on these matters but attached a number of conditions to the approval. Among them are requirements to install bat roosting boxes and bird nesting boxes, and to submit a detailed landscaping plan before the extension can be occupied.
These conditions reflect standard local planning practice where developments affect existing structures and outdoor areas, balancing business improvement with environmental and community safeguards.
What this means for residents and customers
The project aims to convert some of the pub’s outdoor seating into sheltered, year-round indoor capacity while adding a destination element for live events and specialist beers. For regulars it promises a more intimate music setting and an expanded drinks offer. For neighbours, the council’s conditions seek to mitigate wildlife disturbance and preserve the street scene.
The Cricketers Arms has been operating under Andy and Denise Evans since 2013; the pair have previously repositioned the venue as a well-regarded real-ale destination. The extension represents the next phase of that evolution, delivering additional facilities while remaining subject to the approved planning conditions.
