Plans lodged by a national pub chain have been refused in a blow to its rebrand efforts in York.
Greene King’s application to install new signs at the doorway of Lendal Cellars and at the top of the alleyway leading to the pub have been refused by City of York Council.
The pub’s owner’s plans stated they were part of refurbishments that would see inside and outdoor areas improved, enhancing the pub’s value to the community.
But counci planning officers ruled the signs were excessive and would dominate the outside of the pub, off St Helen’s Square, which is Grade II-listed.
Refusal of the plans follows a number of applications from Greene King to revamp pubs the company runs across York.
Plans for new signs and paint jobs have also been lodged for Stonegate’s Ye Olde Starre Inne, the Windmill Inn in Blossom Street and Church Street’s Golden Lion.
Refurbishments include new hanging signs at each of the pubs and repainting them in the company’s green and copper livery.
The application for Lendal Cellars refused by the council would have seen signs with hand-painted lettering and timber blackboards installed.
They would feature a drawing of a monk sampling drinks from barrels in a cellar.
Signs detailing the pub’s history would also have been displayed in the alleyway leading to its entrance and there were also plans for a lantern and menu case.
Plans stated the design of the signs aimed to be appropriate for the building and the surrounding area, with the pub close to York’s Mansion House and Guildhall.
They stated: “The use of individual letters and hand-painted signwriting reflects traditional signage methods commonly associated with historic public houses and reinforces the building’s established identity.”
Grade II listed, Lendal Cellars opened as a pub in 1984 in the 17th and 18th century cellars that formerly acted as storage vaults for wine merchants Messrs J & G Oldfield.
But council planning officers stated: “The proposed advertisement is larger than the existing one and results in significant attention being drawn away from adjacent listed buildings to the point that it dominates the view through the passage.
“The combined effects of the proposed advertisements will result in excessive and dominant additions which will detrimentally impact the character of the listed building, but also the setting of adjacent Listed Buildings, by contributing to a cluttered appearance.”
York Civic Trust also objected, claiming consideration of the effect on the historic building had been lacking.
