An historic York pub is planning to upgrade its beer garden.
The Inn On The Green in Acomb has put in proposals to create a covered outdoor space with its own bar.
A planning application says the pub needs to change to survive and thrive.
Owned by Thwaites, the pub dates back to about 1780 and was known as the Generous Briton for a significant part of its early history.
“Today, the Inn on the Green continues to be a central part of the community, known for live music and a popular food menu, maintaining its traditional role as a local pub. It also provides an important focal point for all residents of the local community and tourists to the area,” planning documents say.
The outdoor drinking area at the pub is bordered by a wooden fence.
Under the plans now submitted to City of York Council, a timber “pergola-type structure” with a polycarbonate roof would cover cover 88 sq m at the back of the pub.
A lean-to covered area and the existing timber fence would be removed. A fire pit would be added.
Planning documents said: “The end out building has an existing single door access with a boarded-up window opening.
“This space will have a new internal bar counter with increased window opening with timber shutters.”
The building has always been a pub. In the mid 1980s, the owners at the time set about revamping and changing the whole operation to a food led pub and changed the name to The Inn on the Green.
It now needs to change again to keep thriving.
Planning documents say 30 pubs are closing a week and need to adapt to survive. “The Inn on the Green is more than just a business, and more than just a drinking establishment, with a well-supported restaurant, which is required to keep the business afloat.
“As a public house, it cannot survive on wet trade sales only, therefore it provides a very real and important service to the community, with many of the older village residents (some who live alone) having a warm meal and this helps strengthen social networks between people who might not otherwise meet.”
The submission adds: “For this vital community asset in Acomb to remain and to be able to support itself, modern intervention is required to meet the up to date standards, in this instance an improved external drinking areas offering family facilities and a new comfortable external drinking area.
“Once a village pub has gone it is difficult to bring them back, and this is already the case in neighbouring villages who have now lost their focal point and community asset.
“The proposed changes fully respect the area and will cause no harm to the surrounding listed building’s architectural or historic character.
“They will ensure that the building will continue in public house use into the short and medium term.”
