A HEREFORDSHIRE pub is back on the market after plans to build a house in its garden were refused by planners.
The Old Boot in Wellington, Herefordshire, is on the market with agents Sidney Philips for an asking price of £295,000 (freehold).
The pub has been closed for almost four years, despite community efforts to purchase it when it was last put on the market.
Villagers set up the Community Benefit Society to purchase the Old Boot, raising nearly £264,000 from financial contributions to put in a £275,000 bid for the pub. However, they were outbid, with the pub selling for £283,000 to another buyer in March 2022.
New owners Choice Circle Ltd submitted a planning application to Herefordshire Council in August that year seeking permission to build a new three-bed home and for a partial change of use of the pub garden to residential use.
The application drew dozens of objections, while Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) questioned areas of the application, including the lack of provision to compensate for the loss of half of the pubs garden, which it said was an important aspect of the pub's commercial operation, and plans to demolish the pub's conservatory.
Herefordshire CAMRA also questioned the "significant omission" of a business viability report, which had not been provided with the application, and said the application had failed to provide any evidence of marketing of the business despite proposing a net loss of community facilities through change of use.
"CAMRA has grave concerns about this proposal," the organisation's submission to Herefordshire Council said.
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In November 2023, the application was refused by planners, who said the proposal would diminish the viability of a community facility without justification, had not taken account of the form, layout, character and setting of the site and its location within a conservation area, and that the proposed house would impact on the public house, among other reasons.
But with the pub now back on the market, the Wellington Community Pub group has indicated that they may be keen to revive their bid to purchase the pub.
In a post to their social media, the group said they have a short window to register their intent to submit a bid on the pub and that they would welcome opinions and feedback through their online survey.
"We know that the appetite and funding to buy the pub was in the community before, and are keen to understand if it is still there so that we can take some prompt next steps," a spokesperson said.
Agents Sidney Philips said the pub still remains furnished and in good condition under the circumstances.
"With decoration and a thorough clean it could be ready to operate at relatively short notice," the agents said.
"It has extensive trading facilities both internally and externally, and generous owners accommodation."
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