Update: Both sets of plans have now been approved by Shropshire Council.
Ludlow is lucky in still having a plentiful supply and variety of pubs in and around the town. But we have already lost a lot or premises – most recently the George and the Horse and Jockey. Now, planning applications have been submitted for two new rather different pubs.
No 14
At 14 Corve Street, Jon Saxon has applied to convert much of the ground floor of the property into an old fashioned parlour pub (15/03327/FUL; 15/03328/ADV). Jon is best known as the man who dreamt up the Ludlow Ledger. Part of the building is currently used as offices for the Ledger. That will remain.
Jon already has a licence to serve alcohol at the premises. Now he needs planning permission for change of use. He also wants to hang an advertising sign for the Ledger outside along with a Victorian lamp. Jon tells me:
The parlour pub will be open Thursday and Friday (5pm to 9pm) and Saturday (12noon to 3pm and 5pm to 9pm). There will be no hanging sign, instead a Victorian tavern lamp that will be turned on to denote that the parlour pub is open.
Jon is a friend and, in line with Shropshire Council’s code of conduct, I won’t be commenting on this application at any point.
No 4
Up the road at 4 Old Street, Gary Jones of Artisan Ales is hoping to convert the room above his current off sales business into a micro-pub (15/03777/FUL). This is how Gary describes his project:
There will be no bar and drinks will be served directly to customers at the tables, which will be a mix of wooden tables and stools with an interior décor in period colours to compliment the building and outside colours of Artisan Ales and the Olive branch next door. Also there will be no televisions, loud music, jukebox or fruit machines. It will be a genteel establishment for the discerning customer with no draught lagers, alcopops or shots. Ladies & gents toilets are already located on this floor. No alteration or changes are required to the building it is purely a change of use from off licence to an on licence.
A small food offering will be available of filled rolls supplied by the Olive Branch alongside crisps, nuts, scratchings and pork pies.
Proposed opening hours are Monday to Sunday midday till 8pm, therefore no late night revellers with the entrance to proposed micro pub being policed by myself (licensee) or supervisor via the off licence.
In conclusion, the aim of the micro pub is to provide a small tasting/ drinking room whilst promoting the small independent microbrewers products under one roof hopefully encouraging tourists and locals to further support small businesses.
This sounds a good idea to me. It’s basically a café or tea shop but it sells beer instead. It is in the heart of our commercial district and will help local businesses thrive. It is the sort of distinctive, local business we need in Ludlow.
