Black Country Traditional Inns granted permission to make changes to Ludlow pub

Black Country Traditional Inns has been granted permission to make alterations to the Unicorn in Corve Street, Ludlow.

This includes creating disabled access to the building, including ramps, and a new disabled toilet.

The pub was previously food-led, but now only cobs, pork pies, scotch eggs etc will be served and no fully bodied meals.

Therefore, the rear kitchen will now be a chilled beer store, with the existing store in the basement becoming redundant, which will overcome flooding issues in the cellar. The removal of catering equipment has already been carried out, and the kitchen is in the process of being fitted out.

The beer lines from the relocated store will be surface mounted in the central lounge area and either boxed in at floor level or routed behind the fixed seating.

The side beer patio is also set to be refurbished with the existing smoking shelter, while the existing first floor area that has been used as hotel letting accommodation will now be used for the manager and his family. Therefore, a kitchen has been created in the centre bedroom and the lobby landing converted to another bedroom.

Access for the public will remain as it is, however the side door entrance to the front lounge bar area is proposed to be reversed to open out to comply with fire regulations.

Meanwhile, a heritage statement provided by Jill Atherton says that the pub is of local and regional significance representing an example of Ludlow’s 15th Century timber-framed heritage.

“This assessment concludes that the monument is an integral of the historic character of Corve Street and that the proposed development will, through a restoration sympathetic to the historic fabric of the building, continue to present the monument in its modern urban setting,” she said.

Shropshire Council has approved the plans, subject to conditions being carried out.