appleTeme responds to comments on its micropub planning application

A few week’s back when life wasn’t so crazy, Tish Dockerty applied for a micropub on the site of her existing business on Lloyd’s Yard. This has caused some consternation among neighbours. Now, Tish has prepared a statement to accompany her application. I publish it here in full.

Statement from appleTeme

appleTeme is typical of the independent small businesses which make up Ludlow’s key employment sectors of Agriculture, Food and Drink and Tourism which support the local economy and promote the town’s reputation.  It is an award winning family business that has been making apple based food and drink locally since 2012. In 2018 appleTeme moved into the Old Brewery to allow the business to expand and give them permanent residence.

The senior partner at appleTeme, Tish Dockerty, has run the Ludlow Street Café for the last decade catering to customers on the popular Ludlow Local Produce Market and creating a range of condiments. She founded easy peasy cookery, a not for profit Community Interest Company, which has promoted healthy cooking from scratch and worked with charities, schools and community centres running educational events.

Apple product manufacturing is seasonal, usually commencing in early September and lasting until late January. Picking, preparation, take down and deep cleaning before and afterwards extends the primary production season to 6 months of the calendar. Retail and wholesale continues throughout the year at local markets, festivals, shops and pubs.

To extend the utilisation of the premises and continue the production and retail of local food and drink into the rest of the year, appleTeme hosted events such as pop up dining, sessions with local food and drink producers/chefs and workshops throughout March to August 2019. When alcohol was served, these were operated under Temporary Event Notices (TENs) licensing.

The space on occasion also accommodated meetings for local community and voluntary organisations including Ludlow 21, Ludlow Chamber of Commerce, Slow Food Ludlow and Incredible Edible at no cost. It was also used as a venue for the Food and Drink and Ludlow Fringe Festivals, again at no charge, with events promoting local businesses, Mental Health and Wellbeing alongside Literacy.

The Old Brewery building has an attractive interior as a former malting which has Grade II historic listing. The building was refurbished in 2006 under the Redundant Building Scheme and the sensitive restoration highlighted the historical features such as the stone walls, wooden roof joists, fixed wooden pulley and mezzanine layering of the floor for drying grains. It made the building sound and brought the derelict building back into a use allied to its original purpose in food and drink production, but it was unused when appleTeme moved in.

The premises has approval currently for use as a micro-brewery which was licensed for sale of alcohol both off and on the premises. appleTeme has continued to make and sell local food and drink products and has had approval for an alcohol licence in February 2020. Under the recommendation of the Shropshire Council Planning Officials a formal application was submitted for Change of Use to more closely define the activities at appleTeme to include “Apple Juicing / Restaurant / Micro-pub”.

appleTeme has no intention to materially change the nature or frequency of the successful events held in the Old Brewery. They will continue to be occasional, limited in size, with a focus on local, sustainable and social food and drink as well as supporting community and voluntary organisations. There will continue to be many weeks in the year with no events held in the space, but some weeks where there may be more than one event at the Old Brewery. Manufacture of food and drink products will continue to be in the main building, with the rear yard used for preparation and storage.

Whilst the Old Brewery is sited in a working haulier’s yard rather than a residential area, appleTeme is conscious of neighbours living in the vicinity and strives to both involve them with its activities and limit any disruption to them. appleTeme has stated in its application that it does not wish to be licensed for music. The licensed area for sale of and consumption of alcohol continues to be the body of the building and the immediate frontage, and specifically excludes the rear yard. The rear door into the yard is unlocked during events for possible use as an escape route to the yard as a fire refuge, but is kept closed.

appleTeme will continue to welcome those who are disabled to the Old Brewery and there is a level entrance to the building. As a historic listed malting there are some access limitations to parts of the premises, including the toilet facilities. Members of staff are happy to assist customers as able and there is a fully accessible toilet in the main Ludlow Brewery building which is a short walk, wheel or drive across the yard. These restrictions are made clear to potential attendees on our website.

As members of the local environmental group Ludlow 21, appleTeme promotes use of public transport, walking and cycling to its events, but recognises that some visitors, particularly those with limited mobility, may need to use cars. As tenants of Lloyds of Ludlow, appleTeme are allowed to use the yard for parking, as do some residents who live nearby. There are clear instructions for off road parking when events are taking place and there have never been problems with this arrangement with either our landlord or neighbours.

appleTeme and the Ludlow Street Café are looking forwards to contributing to the local economy and community from these premises in the town for the foreseeable future. The work done to revitalise the Grade II listed site over the last couple of years has created a lovely space, both to work in and visit. We anticipate welcoming people to further enjoyable events at the Old Brewery and creating more delightful food and drink in this historic building for customers across the Ludlow Marches.