An empty premises close to where there was a devastating fire in South Shore in February could open as a restaurant if plans get the go ahead.
A planning application has been lodged with Blackpool Council seeking consent for a change of use of part of rear of the ground floor of 35 Waterloo Road as a restaurant and function room.
Planning documents say the sizeable property has various uses throughout, with the Sudis Premier convenience store at the front of the ground floor on Waterloo Road itself, as well as a vacant flat and offices on the first floor.
The planning papers state the application is for a change of use from a market to the restaurant.
It also says the site includes a cafe with a kitchen and bar and market space fronting onto Gordon Street, around the corner from Waterloo Road, and a fire exit leading onto Rawcliffe Street at the rear.
The applicant is listed as Sudheesh Pallikulangara, of Sudi Corporation Ltd, which runs 12 convenience stores across Blackpool and the Fylde coast, including the branch at 35 Waterloo Road.
The application currently doesn’t include a planning statement and there are no further details in the submission at this stage.
Following the devastating commercial fire at neighbouring SmartMart at 25 Waterloo Road on February 6, 2026, the Premier store nextdoor escaped serious damage but was forced to close for some time and was boarded up. It has since reopened.
No one was hurt in the fire but it proved devastating for the businesses affected.
Another store affected by the blaze was salon and convenience store OMOTO, whose premises at 23 Waterloo Road was forced to close. The store has now moved further up the road and officially reopened at 93 Waterloo Road, directly opposite the Royal Oak Pub, in May this year.
The South Shore Pitstop Community Cafe, at 21 Waterloo Road, was also forced to close. Despite plans to reopen, it remains shut. A GoFundme campaign to raise £1,800 has so far managed £1,552 from 42 donations.
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