Listen Live

Should Torquay pub become charity shop?

Sunday, 6 September 2020 11:07

By Ed Oldfield, local democracy reporter

Air ambulance could land at Snooty pub

Snooty concerns

People are objecting to the loss of a Devon pub which closed because of complaints about noise.

Devon Air Ambulance Trust wants to turn The Snooty Fox in St Marychurch, Torquay, into a charity shop.

The building in Fore Street was a meeting place for locals for more than a century after starting out as a hotel. The licensee blamed complaints about live music for the decision to leave in October 2019.

The trust wants to take over the ground floor as a charity shop, but objectors say it should be kept as a bar or restaurant.

A change of use application has been submitted to Torbay Council and the proposals is open for public consultation until Wednesday 16 September. Objector Janet Barnes said the pub was valued and popular with locals. She wrote: “This is an opportunity to reopen as a refurbished pub or new restaurant to be enjoyed by locals whilst attracting tourists.”

Mrs Barnes questioned the need for another shop in the area when so many were already closing and boarded up, creating an “eyesore”. She said there were several empty units already in St Marychurch and other shopping streets in Torquay.

Ian Barnes wrote: “This former pub lends itself and provides an opportunity for a wine bar/bistro or restaurant. “He said it would attract locals and tourists and there were only two restaurants in St Marychurch. One only opened two evenings a week before the coronavirus lockdown and it had remained closed. The landlady is reported to have decided to leave after seven years when income fell due to live music being stopped following noise complaints.

The building dates back to around 1890 when it was the Newberry’s family hotel and locals used to drink in its bar and restaurant. It then became the St George Hotel and later The Links, then finally the Snooty Fox.

The application from the trust says no structural changes are planned. The next stage after consultation will be a decision by planning officers or a referral to Torbay Council’s planning committee.

 

More from Local News

Listen Live
On Air Now Matt Rogers Playing My Life Would Suck Without You Kelly Clarkson