‘Struggling’ Weston Hills pub could become Spar - if planners give the green light

A ‘struggling’ village pub could be converted into a convenience store if new plans are given the green light.

The Bell Inn, Weston Hills, no longer generates enough money to provide a ‘basic income’ and will be closing later this year, according to an application submitted by Mr N Satheeskumar.

He wants to convert the Austendyke Road pub - the only one in the village - in order to create a Spar shop. The village currently does not have a shop.

A change of use planning application has now been lodged with South Holland District Council.

It states: “The hospitality industry has seen major changes in recent decades, and many have been detrimental for public houses. More recently supermarket sales of alcohol have increased competition, and changing habits associated with the Covid-19 pandemic have led to decreasing sales.

“The Bell Inn has reached a situation where it does not generate sufficient income to provide even a basic standard of living for its owners and, with retirement pending, the pub will close later this year.

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“Given its village location and societal changes there appears very little chance that this building will ever operate as a public house in the future.”

Last year owners of The Bell, David and Kathleen Filbyshared about their hopes to retire after more than 16 years behind the bar - but could not find a buyer in five years.

Now there is hope in sight for the couple with this latest application.

Documents lodged with the application stress that this is not a ‘speculative’ bid and that the retailer hopes to start trading as soon as possible.

The application states that the shop will occupy much of the ground floor and that the pub’s car park will continue to be used.

It goes on to say: “The public house has struggled economically in recent years and has reached the point where it is no longer economically viable to operate.

“Whilst the loss of the public house is regrettable, the option exists to turn the property into a retail shop which will mean that the village has a new amenity which will sell a wider range of goods than the public house did.”

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