Bidding to make village’s pint-sized pub a bit bigger
A popular micro pub is set for a major revamp under new proposals lodged with planning chiefs.
Blue’s Micro Pub officially openeditsdoorsintheheartof Whitburn Village in February 2020, offering a range of independent craft ales in a small and friendly setting.
Landlords Alice Pye and Callum Watson spent several months renovating the propertyafterseizingtheopportunity to run their own pub.
The venture proved a welcome one for the village, particularly as it came after the village’s Grey Horse pub over theroadcloseddownforgood. Plans have since been approved to convert the building into a Co-op store.
However, Blue’s only had around seven weeks of “normal” trade before the first national lockdown came into force to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
The venue had been operating as an off-licence, but has now closed temporarily after Englandwasplacedunderthe third national lockdown.
As part of a bid to improve the pub’s offering for customers ready for better times, the landlords are hoping to introduce a small “snug room” and beer garden.
The proposals would essentially double the number of seats inside while adding a further20outdoorseatsinthe beer garden.
According to a design and access statement demand for themicropub,bothbeforeand after the first lockdown, has “greatly exceeded capacity”.
If approved, the revamp would allow the micro pub to welcome more customers while continuing to operate in a Covid-safe way when lockdown restrictions on the hospitality sector ease.
“In the short-term, we see it as pretty essential for the running of the business,” said Callum Watson, of Blue’s Micro Pub.
“If Covid-19 restrictions stayforalotlonger,it’snotsustainablejusthavingfourtables inside the pub.
“In the long term, the beer gardenforthesummerwould alsobeamassivebonusforus.”
Micro pub bosses have stressed that their business plan remains unchanged.
South Tyneside Council is consulting on the plans until January28.Gotowww.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/35961/ Search-planning-applications and search planning reference: ST/0944/20/FUL for more details.