Fate of Hereford pub refurb plan announced

A bid to reopen one of Hereford’s oldest pubs and turn its upstairs floors into accommodation has been rejected for a number of reasons.

Anthony Thomas of London-based Jove Ltd sought permission to reconfigure the Grapes Tavern at the corner of East Street and Capuchin Lane in the city centre.

The grade II listed timber-framed pub dates from the early 17th century, but closed in late 2023 and appears to be in declining condition.

Mr Thomas’ plan was for two new flats plus ten bed-and-breakfast rooms and access to them on the three adapted upper floors, as well as a new roof terrace, while there would be a new exterior door on the East Street side and two new windows onto Capuchin Lane.

Mr Thomas said earlier his plans were “very much about bringing the building back to use in a sustainable way”.

But Herefordshire Council planning officer Josh Bailey has now concluded that his proposal “not only seeks the removal of significant historic fabric but also removes the character and special interest this building holds”.

At a meeting at the pub between Mr Thomes, Mr Bailey, and the council’s buildings conservation officer and archaeological advisor, “considerable concerns” were raised over information lacking from the proposal such as a structural survey, along with details of noise, venting, plumbing and fire protection measures.

As an old building vacant for a while, it “offers potential bat roosting features”, yet there was no ecology report with the application either, nor was the impact of extra water pollution accounted for.

Given this, Mr Thomas was “invited to withdraw the application” – but “decided not to do so”, Mr Bailey’s report says.

He added that the proposed roof terrace extension, rising above the historic roofline, would be “unsympathetic and jarring”, while the planned accommodation would suffer from neighbouring properties’ flues and vents which would “give rise to unsatisfactory noise and odour”.

And creating residential accommodation within the building “would diminish the future viability” of the pub, putting it “at persistent long-term risk”, he concluded.

Full planning permission was refused.