Victorian pub planned for Ludlow centre

Members of Shropshire Council's planning department granted Jon Saxon permission to transform the former Forest Dog Rescue charity shop on High Street in to a traditional pub.

Mr Saxon has already opened a similar establishment on Corve Street, called The Dog Hangs Well for which he won a Heritage Award from Ludlow’s Conservation Advisory Committee.

Now he is turning his attention to the vacant Grade II listed four storey shop - and at the same time will be creating three jobs.

An objection to the scheme was made by Ludlow Town Council which said the site was unsuitable for the suspected public use, there has been a disregard for emergency escape routes and it would form over development of the building.

But more people spoke out in favour with several saying the proposed business was in-keeping with the area and would be an asset to Ludlow's bar and pub scene.

In a design statement Mr Saxon, a businessman who runs Son of Saxon in the town, said: "Creating a Victorian pub in the style that would have dominated provincial towns, with simple use of partial partitions and bench-backs as dividing wooden walls. Ludlow would have had a great number of public houses of this nature. 7 Market Street was once The Grapes Tavern, which traded from 1792. It consisted of a bar, parlour, smoke room and kitchen. The Church Inn once benefited from a similar layout with bar, smoke room, and two parlours.

"Three spaces will be created on the ground floor: a public bar, accessed from High Street with a small parlour to the right and a back parlour accessed from Market Street. All rooms will be divided by a simple, floor-to-ceiling, pitch pine matchboard construction and bench backs, with a doorway into each space. Counter service will be enlisted for both the public bar and front parlour, with hatch service available for the back parlour.

"The cellar will be employed to store and condition beer. Being a traditional/natural cellar there will be no need for internal/exterior cooling units. No lager, cider or spirits will be sold." All modern day fixtures and fittings will be removed and sympathetic work will be carried out to renovate the property in a Victorian style.

Works will now get underway to transform the building and the pub will be open from 12pm to 10pm, seven days a week.