Hereford city pub restorer gives assurances on its future

Reopening a historic central Hereford pub as a pub is “very much the intention” of the businessman aiming to restore it.

Anthony Thomas said his newly published plans for the 17th-century Grapes Tavern in East Street are “very much about bringing the building back to use in a sustainable way”.

He has already gained approval for “minor amendments” to the premises licence, he added.

But his plans to complement the pub business with residential and B&B accommodation in the two upstairs floors must first address the lack of fire and noise partitioning, which means “they can’t be used at the moment”.

Though based in London, Mr Thomas has family ties to Hereford and has worked in pubs and heritage properties for 25 years.

A plaque on the pub’s east wall describes it as “one of the city’s oldest inns”.

Herefordshire has recently seen historic pubs the Riverside Inn, Ross-on-Wye and the Crown Inn in nearby Lea being restored and brought back into use, while the Bateman Arms, Shobdon and Lamb Inn, Stoke Prior are in the process of reopening as community pubs.