From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Millie Bowles, 18 August 2023.

The Britannia pub in Margate could be turned into flats.

Plans have been unveiled to turn a former pub famous for serving Britain’s cheapest roast dinner into four flats.

The Grade II-listed Britannia in Fort Hill, Margate, dates back to about 1828 and hit national headlines in 2019 when the landlord began serving £1 Sunday roasts.

Unfortunately, the following January the inn closed its doors for good, citing rising costs, and it has remained empty ever since.

Now, a bid to “reinvigorate” the venue by converting it into four flats by building a two-storey extension to the rear, and adding two semi-detached cottages in the beer garden, has been submitted.

Documents lodged by architects Ian Barber Associates say: “The proposals ensure that the existing building will be complemented by the new works, allowing for a positive addition to the site without detriment to the locality.

“They will improve the living quality and standard of the existing building and future occupiers, while not unacceptably intruding into the landscape and street scene or the listed building.”

Developers promise to retain the existing historical features of the 19th century public house, including an internal flint wall.

They also hope to reinstate some which have been lost throughout the pub’s lifetime such as sash windows, and remove modern partition walls.

The architects add: “There have been various alterations to the existing building over time, not all in character with the age and style of the property, consisting of extensions to the front side and rear, with many unsympathetic internal alterations.

“These new plans will provide life to the site and period building, and reinvigorate its continued use.”

The apartments will all have three bedrooms, as will the houses.

Behind the white castle-style wall at the front of the building, it is hexagonal in shape and has an incredibly rich history.

It was once owned by Cobbs Brewery, which made beer at an adjoining site demolished in the 1960s to make way for Margate police station.

It is rumoured the cellar connects to the Margate Caves and tunnels used by smugglers, and the tavern was used to house soldiers rescued from Dunkirk.

A skeleton was found under the floorboards in the 1980s and the publican of the time covered the portion of the floor with glass and displayed it.

In more recent times, it was known as a great music venue, and hundreds of people flocked from as far as Yorkshire to try the famous £1 roast.

Developers want to add two houses in the garden of The Britannia in Margate.

The food – despite the meagre price tag – was highly enjoyed by all accounts, and landlord Paul Rollins said he made the money back by the extra advertising and customers.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Daniel Esson, 11 April 2024.

Historic seafront pub in Margate to be transformed into flats.

A distinctive Grade-II Listed former pub labelled an “eyesore” is set to be overhauled into flats.

Divisive plans to transform Margate’s old Britannia into homes recently received a mixed bag of reaction.

But now, the once prominent family pub in Fort Hill, previously renowned for £1 roast dinners, is expected to be revamped into four flats.

Dating back to about 1828, The Britannia closed its doors in 2020 citing rising costs, and has remained shut ever since.

Now, Thanet District Council planning chiefs are expected to greenlight developer Acme Lettings’ proposals, after it pointed out the “non-viability” of running pubs.

The Whitstable developer argued in its design and access statement: “Certainly, the decline of the pub as a community facility is highlighted in that another local pub has closed, together with many other pubs within the area, most due to the non-viability of running them.”

“There has been various alterations to the existing building over time, not all in character with the age and style of the property, consisting of extensions to the front side and rear,” the developers add.

The building situated next to Margate Police Station has a distinctive castellated front, with Acme stressing the unique design will remain unchanged.

Originally, the application also included plans for two semi-detached cottages in the former beer garden.

However, the buildings were removed from the plans, with TDC’s conservation officer labelling them “inappropriate” and “ultimately causing harm to the primary listed property”.

The application has been controversial, attracting six objections and nine letters of support in the authority’s planning portal.

“With the urgent need for more housing, changing the use of the land and property to incorporate such in a prime seafront location therefore seems to be the best and most sensible way forward,” wrote resident Keith Docwra.

“I feel this proposal will bring a much-needed and welcome change to the site in question.”

The new homes would be a “small but essential step in the right direction and can only serve to enhance the local area,” Mr Docwra added.

Andrew Cox wrote that he supports the bid “to finally do something constructive with the white elephant that is the Britannia public house.

“I know that the pub business has failed on five consecutive occasions because the Britannia is too big for its own good.

“These days people want specialist designer bars and micro pubs. The days of the huge family public house have long gone.”

He added: “Residential use is the only sensible option.”

“The building will go from being a paint-peeling eyesore, with a concrete car park dominating the frontage, to an attractive facade with substantial planting,” wrote Elizabeth Stone.

However, not everyone is overjoyed to see the historic inn converted.

Julian Stone, pub preservation officer of the Thanet Campaign for Real Ale, wrote to the district council on behalf of the 500 members.

“We believe the Britannia Hotel needs time to re-establish itself,” he argued.

“Let’s be clear, pubs and hotels in Margate need to be protected from being converted into flats or houses in multiple occupation.

“Pubs and hotel businesses are important for the town’s continued prosperity and vitality.”

Ian Jones also came out in objection, arguing: “This proposal seems to be an exercise in squeezing six three-bedroom dwellings onto a relatively small plot, adding substantially to urban density, with little thought regarding its detrimental impact on the quality of life in neighbouring (listed) properties.

“Whilst some development of the Britannia pub is probably inevitable in one form or another, the proposal under consideration is opportunistic, inconsiderate and far from ideal, contributing little to the neighbourhood,” he added.

The Britannia garnered attention in 2019 when the landlord started selling what could have been Britain’s cheapest roast dinner at only £1 a meal.

But the landlords closed in January 2020 amid mounting trading pressures.

Indeed, it has been well-documented pubs across the county have been struggling for years.

As the housing crisis shows no sign of abating, many have been converted into flats or homes instead.

TDC’s planning committee are set to vote on the application at a meeting on Wednesday, April 17, where planning officers will recommend it be approved.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Louis Walker, 26 April 2024.

Plans to transform The Britannia pub in Margate into flats refused by Thanet District Council.

A bid to transform a historic pub overlooking the sea into housing has been rejected.

The Grade-II listed The Britannia in Margate was earmarked for four three-bedroom flats and a rear extension but it was claimed the argument it needs to be turned into housing “just doesn’t work here”.

The once-beloved boozer dates back nearly 200 years and has been closed since January 2020, with its former landlords citing rising costs behind the decision to quit.

But when the scheme went before councillors at Thanet District Council (TDC), they voted to overthrow the flats development.

One member said prospective landlords looking to take over the pub had been put off by “what appears to be an inflated price tag”.

The conversion plans received a mixed bag of responses after being unveiled last year.

Applicants Acme Lettings said conversion was necessary due to the pub's “non-viability”.

“The decline of the pub as a community facility is highlighted by the closure of another local pub, together with many other pubs within the area, mostly due to the non-viability of running them.”

However, this was questioned at the planning meeting last Thursday by Thanet Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) member, Julian Stone.

He said: “There is an assertion that The Britannia will now and forever be unviable as a business. This has to be refuted, given its proximity to the Turner Gallery and other Margate attractions.

“This proposed permanent loss of The Britannia removes a little part of the publicly accessible heritage of Thanet.

“To those who think that a new micropub or a bar opening somewhere can replace this historic building, all I can say is that such a replacement would be a poor one.”

Cllr Sam Bambridge (Con) also questioned the lack of viability surrounding The Britannia.

She said: “As a councillor, I have been approached by numerous parties that have put in offers for the Britannia to continue its use as a public house for the local community and have been deterred by what appears to be an inflated price tag designed to deter potential buyers for the building.

“The argument of a housing shortage just doesn't work here. There are plans for housing everywhere, including many newly built flats behind the Britannia itself.

“The historic, much cherished Britannia, is one of the best-placed venues in Margate. We should be proud of it and protect it.

“The last thing we need is a small number of flats to benefit the few who can afford them.”

The original plans for the pub site also included two semi-detached cottages in the former beer garden.

However, the buildings were removed from the plans, with TDC’s conservation officer labelling them “inappropriate” and “ultimately causing harm to the primary listed property”.

Ward councillor for Margate Central, Rob Yates (Lab) also said he knew residents who had expressed interest in taking over The Britannia and added that “it was the perfect place for a pub”.

Cllr Rebecca Wing (Green) acknowledged what could be possible at the site if it was allowed to get back on its feet.

She said: “I can't understand why we are allowing this listed building to be butchered.

“There isn't another pub in the area, and it seems it has been left to rot since lockdown.

“We can liken this to the Royal Victoria Pavillion in Ramsgate, the listed building that has been turned into a magnificent venue enjoyed by many people. This probably has similar potential.”

The Britannia’s history dates back to 1828, and it previously gained national headlines for its £1 roast dinners.

The application was refused unanimously, based on losing a community facility without sufficient justification or adequate alternative provision.

The vote followed warnings by planning officers that the decision could be taken to appeal.