Harrogate Borough Council has refused plans to convert The Birch Tree Inn in Wilsill into a holiday cottage.
The pub is a notable landmark on the main road from Pateley Bridge to Harrogate and has stood there for over 100 years.
Much of the building was converted into three holiday cottages five years ago, with the pub continuing to trade in a smaller area.
But documents submitted on behalf of the landlord said two tenants tried and failed to make the pub work since 2016.
It has been closed since the beginning of the covid pandemic in March 2020.
When a landlord wants to convert a pub into housing, HBC asks that the building be marketed as a pub for at least 12 months. This is to show that there is no longer interest in it operating as a public house and that the community would not be unnecessarily losing an asset.
Read More:
- Major setback for Kirkby Malzeard pub campaigners
- Harrogate’s Pine Marten pub reopens after major refurbishment
Documents submitted on behalf of the landlord said they had discussed opportunities to take on the pub with local restauranteurs and bar operators including William & Victoria in Harrogate.
However, they said the pub was now “unviable” as a business and so wanted to open a fourth holiday cottage, which have proved to be popular.
“[The pub] was already proving unviable, with social distancing and reduced opening hours simply reinforcing this. Now as ‘accidental landlords’ they find themselves with ongoing liabilities, without the prospect of income, even in the long term.
“These are extraordinary times the entire country finds itself in, with the whole hospitality industry under incredible pressure and all parties desperately trying to keep their heads above water”
However, HBC was not satisfied the landlord had sufficiently marketed the building as a pub and refused the plans.
Case officer Mark Williams wrote:
“In the absence of a sufficient marketing effort, the proposed development would lead to the loss of a community facility and service.”
