Plans have been submitted to convert a pub in housing.
Wellington Pub Company has applied to West Berkshire Council for permission to convert the former Blackbird pub into a three-bedroom house.
The former Bagnor pub was once popular for its roast dinners, ploughman’s lunch and with visitors of The Watermill Theatre nearby.
But its future is no longer financially viable, says the applicant, whose proposal would see the two-storey building adapted for residential use and the existing number of car parking spaces reduced by 12 — leaving three in total.
WBC responded to a pre-application change of use enquiry in September confirming it accepted the proposal in principle.
The applicant’s viability statement, prepared by John Joseph Keane, reads: “The pub does have some potential to attract visitors, but theatregoers are already well catered for in-house by The Watermill Theatre, and any spin-off in favour of Renaissant is likely to be slight.”
Previously run as The Blackbird, the property was refurbished and rebranded as Renaissant in 2017, a restaurant run by Michelin starred chef, Dominic Robinson.
But the property ceased trading in mid-2022, and has been closed and boarded since October 2022.
WBC is expected to issue its decision by Tuesday, August 6.
