Former funeral home is set to reopen as a wine bar

May 20 2009 by Kevin Core, Birkenhead News

Entrepreneur Tim Bacon, the man behind The Living Room, is hopeful Wirral Council will back his new venture after an initial approval from planning officers.

The former Griffiths Funeral Home at Grange Bank, Grange Road, West Kirby would become a “community bar”.

The parlour, which has been closed for over a year, underwent a major refurbishment in 2008.

The plan has so far seen two objections from residents in the nearby Riverside Court.

They have written to the Planning Department saying the town is already becoming overrun with bars and that its canopy would overcrowd the pavement.

Their objections will be heard by Wirral’s Planning Committee on Thursday, May 21 at Wallasey Town Hall at 6pm.

Local councillor Gerry Ellis said: “I know there’s a considerable amount of opposition and there’s a petition being put together.

“I’m not sure I like the idea of going for a drink in a place that was a chapel of rest. Let’s hope they’re not serving spirits.”

Owner of the site Tim Bacon said: “It will be a new style of bar cafe, there will be something for everyone. It will be small and community-based.

“Aside from its background it’s an absolutely wonderful building and it has a fantastic ceiling which we’ll be keeping.

“The building is standing empty, it’s a good use of the property and I think it could breathe life into the area.”