River Cottage Canteen & Deli coming to Whiteladies Road…?

While the COOK shop took over part of the former Britannia Building Society premises at St John’s Court on Whiteladies Road in August 2010, the rest of the building has remained empty. A notice of planning application in the window, however, suggests that it could soon be home to a River Cottage Canteen & Deli.

Writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall already has two Devon-based Canteen And Delis to his name – one in Plymouth and one in Axminster. Both house a restaurant, serving seasonal produce from local suppliers, with a deli section selling both fresh and storecupboard produce, again from local companies.

The planning application in the window of the Whiteladies Road premises shows that River Cottage are requesting permission to sell alcohol (both to drink in and take away), allow late night music and refreshment, and to open at 8am for “food and other similar light refreshment”.

Fingers crossed the application is accepted – this would be a great addition to Whiteladies Road, which seems to be becoming more and more vibrant after a period of decline.