Moves to reopen an ‘eyesore’ pub as a thriving business are under way after plans to transform the venue were approved.
The White Horse Hotel in High Street, Wem, which ceased trading in 2007, is currently under development to provide three new homes at the rear, with three car parking spaces.
But the ground floor could now be opened as a shop, restaurant or cafe, after the applicant was granted permission to separate the first floor apartment from the ground floor business space.
Alessio Dyfnallt, of Pooks Commercial Property Consultants, told the Chronicle they began marketing the premises a few weeks ago.
He said demand for business opportunities in Wem had really picked up pace since January, and revealed that premises next door to the pub had been let as a cafe within the last month.
Mr Alessio said: “We’re hoping there will be quite a lot of interest in The White Horse. There’s demand around Wem at the moment and we’ve just let two units on the High Street, which have become Heels 2 Bags which sells handbags and shoes, and Justine’s Gems, which sells jewellery.”
Applicant Novo Investments Ltd of London has full planning permission and listed building consent to transform the Grade II listed site, which stretches back to Noble Street.
Its boundary is also next to the former chapel beside Hazlitt House, where famous Wemian the Reverend William Hazlitt lived.
The pub had previously been boarded up and was branded an eyesore by concerned residents.
But now an opportunity has arisen for interested parties to run a business from the premises.
Shropshire councillor for Wem, Pauline Dee, said she was looking forward to seeing the pub brought back into use. She said: “Hopefully the agents will be able to let it because it is in a prime position. We need someone to come along who could set up a good sustainable business. Boarded-up buildings make a town look very sad. It was an eyesore.”
by Charlotte Hester