‘Pub must expand or die’
OWNERS SAY VILLAGE HOSTELRY CAN ONLY SURVIVE IF IT’S ALLOWED TO EXPAND ONTO FARM LAND
A VILLAGE pub run by two families is pinning its hopes of future survival on an extension onto a farmer’s field.
The Dunkirk Inn at Denby Dale was threatened with being bulldozed and replaced by housing in recent years.
In 2016 a group of families banded together to take it on and the venue was refurbished to become a destination pub for food and ale lovers from across the district.
But, four years on, the pub’s remaining owners have claimed they are “struggling” and need to extend the building onto the green belt if the business is to have any chance of thriving.
They have cited the need for the 2m social distancing in their application to Kirklees Council and revealed that the kitchen is far too small to handle the number of meals they need to make to be profitable.
A planning statement says they consider the expansion onto a farmer’s field behind the premises will meet the “very special circumstances” test required for development on the protected green belt.
It says: “Despite refurbishment, the kitchen size was never fit for purpose as it could not produce the number of covers to make the business viable.
“There is a mismatch between demand and our ability to service that demand, mainly due to the limited dining area and the small kitchen size. The demand for food has increased but the kitchen was designed to provide small bar snacks and traditional pub food, with space for two chefs and a small amount of storage.
“We want to [turn the business round] by extending the building, increasing its capacity and making the Dunkirk a sustainable business.
“This will result in increased staffing levels, keeping the community hub, and the support of local businesses and suppliers.
“Without the proposed extension and investment, the business will struggle and it will fail, as many landlords have found in the past.”
They added: “(The proposals) will allow social distancing to be observed in the public dining areas and the staff areas when necessary.”
Public consultation on the plans, which are likely to go before the council’s Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee in August, runs until July 15.