November 15, 2021 1.05 pm This story is over 27 months old

Former bank and cannabis factory to become sports bar

A new purpose for this Grimsby drugs den

New plans have been approved for a former Grimsby bank once used as a cannabis factory.

The former Co-operative bank and a neighbouring shop on Osbourne Street are to be turned into a sports bar.

The derelict building was found to be the site of a £200,000 cannabis farm in 2019.

North East Lincolnshire Council has approved the plans to breathe life back into it, which will see a pool hall created on the first floor and a built-in sports shop.

The bar has been granted permission to open open from 9am to midnight Sunday to Friday, and 9am to 1am on Saturdays.

The bank and the neighbouring shop have now been empty for several years.

A statement submitted with the application said: “We appreciate that this building is located within the central Grimsby conservation area. All of the directors involved with this proposal are from the area and as such are keen to enhance and give back to the local area and community.”

The project would “vastly improve” the building it added, given that its current negative impact on the area.

The building’s exterior brickwork would be maintained, with repairs where necessary.

The huge cannabis farm valued at £200,000 was discovered in May 2019 after Humberside Police were tipped off by a member of the public.

They stopped a van which had been seen parked half-in half-out of the former bank.

Police then raided the factory and cordoned it off for several days.

A court heard three men had set the farm up after discovering a ‘secret door’ while working nearby.