A Hitchin pub dating back to 1867 has been bought by the Charles Wells brewery stable, which has lodged a planning application to reopen it and build two homes on part of the site.
The brewery – which sold the former Windmill pub in Charlton – has made the move after a planning application lodged by previous Radcliffe owners Mark and Nicky Craven to turn the site into flats and a pair of houses was dismissed in June.
If approved, the pub in Walsworth Road will operate under Charles Wells offshoot Pizza, Pots and Pints – which will fund its plans by selling off part of the site’s land for development.
The planning application states that Charles Wells intend to build “two four-bed semi-detached dwellings following demolition of outbuildings”.
The chain says it intends to reopen “the new-look Radcliffe Arms” in October.
Pizza, Pots and Pints director Craig Mayes said: “The funds we recoup from planning permission will be ploughed back into the business to fund the six-figure sum we must spend on the pub to secure its future not only for us but for the local community.”
This is second application on the site after the Comet reported last November that the Cravens planned to demolish the historic building – which was initially called The Rougeley Arms, and built to cash in on the trade from the then-new Hitchin railway station during the 19th century.
There were 166 objections posted on the district council’s website about the plans, prompting the Cravens to withdraw their initial application.
Pizza, Pots and Pints also runs the Old White Horse pub in Baldock’s Station Road.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here