Appeal to save Canvas bar

Two weeks ago builders were working on the former Canvas Bar restaurant and a huge ‘To Let’ sign was placed on the boarding protecting the windows.

Phyllis Bentley ran two shops out of the former Canvas Bar restaurant on King Street for 30 years.

Both of the businesses’ – ‘Phyllis’ of Knutsford’, a popular toy shop and china shop ‘Phyllis Vaughan’ – were popular with Knutsfordians before Phyllis sold the building when she retired.

Sadly Phyllis died in 2010 and now her sister, Margaret Powell, has said it is about time someone saved the building.

Margaret, who lives in Northwich, told the Guardian: “It was the most magnificent building inside.

“It was all oak beams and wattle and daub for the walls. It’s got a conservation order on it and I’ve been told by a friend in Knutsford that there is activity going on. When I last saw it there were chunks of wood falling off it so they had to do something with it.

“But if they leave it any longer it will fall to bits. The wood has gone to pulp and how they can do that to a property worth that much I just don’t know.

“Phyllis died last year but heard the shop was empty so kept asking about it. They lived in the top floor of it for 30 years and it was like an old cottage, it was beautiful. It should be preserved though; they’ve done enough damage to Knutsford recently.”

Knutsford resident Charlie Williams, who is marketing the property, said there had been interest from local and national companies since it went on the market.

“We’ve had a good level of interest, which is pleasing,” he said.

“We want someone who will invest in the property but it’s actually not in as bad a condition as some people may think from looking for the outside. I’m hoping that it will go relatively quickly and if we can agree something in the next few weeks we can then get somebody in.”

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