The owners of a Yarmouth pub have applied for listed building consent (LBC) to install ‘high quality’ bed and breakfast accommodation.
Character Inns IOW Limited is seeking to transform The King’s Head’s seven first floor bedrooms and one shared bathroom into five guest suites.
Plans include four double en-suite bedrooms and one family suite with three sleeping areas and a bathroom.
The pub’s loft, currently used for storage, would house two of the family sleeping spaces.
Diversifying to survive
In a statement prepared on behalf of Character Inns, the Andrew White Planning Consultancy said,
“Given the challenging nature of the hospitality industry, particularly in light of operational costs and seasonal constraints, it becomes ever more important to explore diversification opportunities.
“The same management team have seen the benefits of providing guest accommodation at their other establishments across the Island and have spotted an opportunity at The King’s Head.
“Given the availability of space above the pub, currently used as occasional staff accommodation, coupled with the popularity of Yarmouth and the proximity to cross-Solent travel (Wightlink ferry), the applicants have identified an opportunity of providing five high-quality guest suites including a larger multiroom family suite.”
Within the Yarmouth Conservation Area
The King’s Head is located within the Yarmouth Conservation Area, a zone in which property alteration and development controls apply to preserve its appearance and character.
As a Grade II listed building, the pub itself is seen as having special architectural or historic interest.
According to historic environment public body Historic England, the building dates back to the 17th century but was altered in the 19th century.
Job creation
Further justifications provided by Character Inns’s application include jobs created for local people, greater revenues to keep the pub financially viable and its claim that proposed works will not have ‘any significant impact’ on the building’s historic ‘character, fabric or structure’.
View the plans
You can view the plans on the council’s planning register (24/01615/LBC).
The public consultation runs until 29th November 2024.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
