A former coffee shop has been converted into a brewery tap room and restaurant.

Redcar and Cleveland Council approved plans late last year to overhaul the former Coffee Parlour at Arbroath House in Loftus High Street with the new business opening before Christmas.

The vacant ground floor property had been placed up for sale after the previous business closed with Loftus-based craft brew company Micklow Brewing eventually taking over the lease and the council giving the green light to a change of use application.

Documents submitted to the local planning authority said four full-time and three-part time jobs were being created with the new venture opening from 4pm to 11pm Monday to Fridays, 12pm to 11pm on Saturdays and 12pm to 9pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

Commenting on the application, resident Alison Atkinson said: “By providing an outlet for the recently established Micklow Brewery it is giving that business a greater chance to survive.

“The impact on existing licenced establishments should not be too severe as the offer is significantly different to a traditional pub and it may attract more clientele to them as part of an evening’s

Loftus Town Council, which was consulted over the application, also added its support.

A council officer’s report said the tap room and restaurant conversion only involved internal alterations with no changes planned to the exterior of the building.

It was not anticipated there would be a detrimental effect on neighbour amenity, given the site was located where there were a number of commercial properties and only a limited amount of residential properties.

The report also said it would “improve the vitality and viability” of the area.

Micklow Brewing has its ales stocked in more than 20 bars with waste grain from the brewery process also being used as one of the ingredients in dog biscuits sold locally.