Western Daily Press (Saturday)
PUB BOSS’S FURY OVER ORDER TO TAKE DOWN GARDEN BAR
APUB landlord has said he is “heartbroken” after being told he has to remove a temporary garden bar that “saved” the pub from financial ruin.
Joe Cussens is the managing director of the Bath Pub Company, set up in 2012, which operates the Marlborough Tavern and The Locksbrook Inn.
It also runs The Hare and Hounds in the Lansdown area of Bath, where Mr Cussens and his staff set up a garden bar and decking area in the extensive grounds.
The bar “saved their bacon” during the coronavirus pandemic as it enabled service outside at a time when customers weren’t allowed inside.
Mr Cussens said: “I am so baffled and incredulous about this, I do not understand why the council would take such a line at a time when businesses need their support.”
It was constructed with no planning application, as Mr Cussens said he thought he wouldn’t need it for what is “basically a large shed”.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has allegedly told Mr Cussens that while he is allowed to apply for retrospective planning permission, it is unlikely to be approved and the whole thing may have to go.
In a statement, Tim Ball, the council’s cabinet member for housing, planning and economic development, said they were keen to work with Mr Cussens on finding an alternative.
Mr Cussens explained that the bar was built in response to the first lockdown and was completed by the end of June.
He said: “We put it up in two weeks, it was a pretty much live and die thing – we needed to be able to serve outside. It’s been brilliant, it’s really saved our bacon, we were able to bring staff off furlough and get going again.
“We didn’t think we needed planning permission for what is basically a large shed in our garden that can’t be seen from the road.
“It looks great, provides employment for our 33 staff members and is great for our hundreds of customers.”
Along with the bar, Joe and his team have put decking down over a previously grassy area.
He said: “We put the decking down because the grass was really uneven and now this is a lot smoother and safer in all weathers for our older customers too.”
The council said in correspondence to Mr Cussens that if he didn’t take down the bar and decking, an enforcement notice would be issued.
Mr Cussens has submitted a retrospective planning application, but that process has been halted while it is assessed by the planning department at the council.
He said: “It cost in the region of £30,000 to £40,000 to build as we wanted it to look smart.
“We have a mountain of debt from not being able to trade much last year. I think this pub incurred costs of £35,000 in losses in the first lockdown and about £90,000 from November to March this year.
“These are unprecedented amounts and times. The only way we avoided insolvency was through the combination of taking on a large debt burden and a strong, but all too brief period of trade last summer – driven by the outside bar.
“We desperately need to be able to continue to trade on the lower garden area for the pub to start recouping these losses and have a long-term viable future.
“In a nutshell, without the outside bar and trading area the pub could simply cease to exist.”
Councillor Ball said: “We have already worked with Mr Cussens to resolve a separate planning matter at his Marlborough Tavern premises and there is a solution available for The Hare and Hounds.
“Our planning officers have made clear to Mr Cussens that we want to work with him on this solution and that we could support an alternative in this location, however he has continued with the works without planning permission.
“Notwithstanding Covid, the council does still have a statutory duty to investigate all reported breaches of planning control and respond appropriately.
“Our officers across planning and public protection have been working with businesses across B&NES to help them reopen, for example with our pavement licences, of which 52 have been granted with only six refusals, and we will continue to try and find a solution with Mr Cussons.”
It looks great, provides employment for our 33 staff members and is great for our hundreds of customers JOE CUSSENS