ANOTHER bid is being made to reopen the town's historic Tudor cottage as a restaurant, the Guardian can reveal.

Restaurateur Ahad Miah, from Oldham, is the latest businessman who wants to turn around the fortunes of the deserted grade one listed building, in Church Street.

He has applied, through Manchester-based solicitors Weightman's, for a justice's liquor licence. His application will be heard by licensing magistrates on September 10.

Historians say Oliver Cromwell lodged near to the cottage, in August 1648, from where he sent dispatches proclaiming his victories over Royalist forces at Warrington, Winwick and Preston.

In modern times the black and white building was owned, until recently, by Greg Pache, who lives off Field Lane, Appleton.

But Michael Williams, of town centre surveyors Morgan Williams, which has acted as Mr Pache's agents in his bid to sell the property, this week confirmed that the cottage had been sold.

Mr Williams has acted as the building's custodian while a number of other prospective ventures have been touted as potential saviours for the cottage.

Knutsford-based Italian restaurant operator Cia Italia was interested in redeveloping the medieval landmark in 1999.

And former police chief inspector James Quick expressed an interest in the building in August 2000. But his proposals were never proceeded with.

Cromwell's Eating House was the last successful cottage tenant - but it closed down around seven years ago.