VISITORS to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery look set to wait even longer for a restaurant at the attraction after a planning application to build one was withdrawn.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Bombay Sapphire applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in February 2014 for permission to change the use of three buildings at the site at Laverstoke Mill to provide a 200-seat restaurant, farm shop and bistro.

The application stated that the restaurant would be open between 10am and midnight – the same hours as the rest of the site – and the gin company told the borough council they would plan to employ 20 additional full-time members of staff.

As part of the application, Bombay Sapphire also applied for permission to site an overflow car park at the tourist attraction for an extra 49 parking spaces in addition to the 85 spaces that are already in place.

However, the restaurant plans have now been put on hold after the gin company withdrew the application.

Will Brix, estate manager at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, said: “Since the Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill has opened its doors to the public, we have had some really positive feedback from guests on catering and watched how people have used the site.

“As such, we have decided to withdraw the application to incorporate these factors, and will look to reapply in 2015 at some point.”