Suites plan for North Herefordshire village pub

Part of a North Herefordshire village pub could be converted into four “hotel suites” under newly submitted plans.

Underused space to the rear of the Castle Inn in Wigmore would become four self-contained holiday units under plans submitted by Andrew Lunnon of Rock Farm Caravan Park, Bromyard.

This includes a ground-floor laundry and a former function suite on the first floor, last used by a local working men’s club.

All four suites would have en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor, each connected by an internal stair to a lounge and kitchen/dining area with balcony on the first floor, the submitted plans show.

Sliding glazed doors would lead from the bedrooms of each suite to private external terraces.

Internal concrete walls on the ground floor and an external escape stair would be removed, but demolition would otherwise be “minimal”.

“The existing spaces have remained unutilised for a number of years and the buildings are progressively deteriorating and are in danger of going into a state of dilapidation, if not refurbished and brought back into use,” Mr Lunnon’s application says.

The the new venture would not affect the staffing of the pub, it adds.

Though not listed, the pub lies within the village’s conservation area.

Comments on the application, numbered 231914, can be made until August 10.