Plans have been lodged to convert a neglected outbuilding at a Minskip pub into a microbrewery.
The owners of The Wild Swan on Main Street in the village, near Boroughbridge, have lodged the proposal to Harrogate Borough Council.
It would see a building on the site converted into a microbrewery and function room, which would include a food preparation area and toilet.
Documents submitted to the council say the conversion of the outbuilding would help to provide “much needed flexibility” for the pub.
It added that the proposal would lead to “significant investment” in the building. which is deteriorating and has been “seriously neglected”.
The document said:
“The outbuilding has been seriously neglected and is in need of significant investment to rescue it from further, irreversible, deterioration.
“The building will convert efficiently to provide the proposed accommodation requiring only limited alterations, thus removing any risk of changing the character and appearance of the area.”
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The move to refurbish the building comes after three friends from Harrogate and York clubbed together to buy The Wild Swan in Minskip last summer.
After running the pub for a few months they closed it in January for a refurbishment and reopened to customers the following month.
The outbuilding at The Wild Swan at Minskip.
Owners Stephen Lennox, Alex Bond and Alastair Benham unveiled a new and improved pub and told the Stray Ferret earlier this year that a microbrewery was on the cards as part of the refurbishment.
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
New owners unveil Minskip pub’s fresh lookThe new owners of a pub near Boroughbridge have unveiled a fresh look in the first part of major plans for the venue.
Three friends from Harrogate and York clubbed together to buy The Wild Swan in Minskip last summer. After running the pub for a few months they closed it in January for a refurbishment.
Supply issues caused by coronavirus delayed the reopening. What was only meant to take a few days ended up taking three weeks but the owners managed to open the doors today.
Diners enjoying The Wild Swan on reopening day.
Owners Stephen Lennox, Alex Bond and Alastair Benham have replaced the greens and yellows of the pub with more muted off-white tones.
While they are keen to make a name for themselves for the menu, which is under the direction of new head chef Liam Philbin, the trio also want to improve the pub in other ways for locals.
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Mr Lennox told the Stray Ferret today:
“The pub side has been improved in a cosmetic way. The restaurant side has had a total renovation with new flooring, new furniture and decorations.
“We’ve also improved the bathrooms and extended the kitchen. From the outside as well you can see the pub has had a refurbishment. We’ve painted the building, installed planters and outdoor seating.
“There wasn’t anything wrong with what it was before but it wasn’t what we wanted it to be. It’s a real freshen-up and brighten-up. We want to keep the country pub feel but put our own stamp on it.”
The dining room has undergone a major refurbishment.
The owners are also planning to convert a building at the back of the pub to make room for a private dining room and a microbrewery with a beer garden connecting the two.
Mr Lennox said he hoped those additional works would be completed by May.