Plans for a café and ice cream parlour named in honour of a famous wandering peacock have been unveiled. A proposal to convert a former stained glass studio on Chorley Road, Blackrod, has been published by Bolton council.
A planning statement said the venture would be food led, with an alcohol licence and ice cream available to take away. The statement said the business would be named The Wandering Peacock, after Pedro, a 'famous peacock who used to wander around Blackrod'.
Community rooted venture
The planning document added: “This reflects the intention of creating a business rooted in the local community. I have also been contacted by a local college student who grew up in Blackrod, she has asked to paint a large portrait of Pedro to display inside.
“The unit has gradually deteriorated over many years as a workshop, and the last 2.5 years it has remained unused and underutilised, despite occupying a highly visible location within the heart of Blackrod.”
Pedro's legacy
The wanderings of Pedro the peacock were recorded by locals in Blackrod between 2016 and 2019 with sightings of the beloved creature reported on social media. A dedicated Facebook page was created with locals reporting him pottering around the village, visiting gardens as he went.
Affection for him was so great that after Pedro died, a memorial stone was placed at the village cemetery funded by his fans and H & S Fishwick (Monumental Masons) of Scot Lane.
Proposed venue details
In the planning statement, applicant Abigail Horrocks said: “My aim is to create a beautiful, historically unique and loved venue in Blackrod that people of all ages can enjoy locally.
“This will create somewhere for the community to go, breakfast through to evening, encouraging people to stay in Blackrod and attend local events and community activities.
“The premises will operate as a welcoming and community focused restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and light evening meals alongside ice cream sales and the purchase of alcohol, however, serving meals to dining customers will be the primary purpose of the restaurant.”
The proposal said the dining area would have approximately 20 to 30 covers. It added that once operating the venue would create around five full-time equivalent jobs and the proposed operating hours were Sunday-Thursday, 9am-10pm and Friday and Saturday 9am-11pm. Planners at Bolton council will consider the proposals in the coming weeks.
