Community fears loss of village’s only pub
Erlestoke's George and Dragon could become houses if plans are approved
The only pub in a village near Devizes could be converted into houses – despite plans by the community to rescue it.
The owner of the George and Dragon in Erlestoke has submitted plans to convert the pub into five homes.
The 17th century Grade II listed inn closed in 2015. In 2020 it was bought by Chaffinch Pub Company, who tried to turn the business around.
But they say they were thwarted after Wiltshire Council denied their request to open a beer garden on the pub’s car park, because councillors feared visitors would park on the road outside the inn, causing congestion.
The listed status of the building, challenging market conditions, and construction costs were also cited as obstacles.
The pub – which had been listed by Wiltshire Council as an Asset of Community Value – was put back on the market in 2023 and offered to community group Erlestoke Hub Ltd.
In a letter to planners, the Hub protested that the asking price was too high, and blamed the failure of the business on “poor management, high rental costs and a failure to use the four roomed stable block as tourist accommodation.”
“The Erlestoke Hub, a community benefit society, objects, very strongly, to the change of use of the George and Dragon public house to dwelling houses,” wrote chairman Keith Lewcock.
“The Erlestoke Hub remains, and throughout the village of Erlestoke there is a genuine desire to see the pub retained as a pub.”
The applicants say the conversion will protect the listed building from falling into disrepair, and address housing needs in the village.
They want to create two one-bed and one two-bed homes from the main building, and create two one-bedroom units in the pub’s stable block.
They say the works will not affect the outside appearance of the property.
A previous planning application to turn the pub into housing was rejected back in 2015. Then, Wiltshire Council planners said the closure of the village’s only pub would be a loss to the community.