Historic former pub in growing Somerset village to become homes
End of an era as Somerset pub set for residential conversion
An historic former pub in a growing Somerset village will be turned into housing after plans were approved.
The Tippling Philosopher graced the A30 High Street in the centre of Milborne Port, near Sherborne, from the 18th century until its closure at the end of 2024 following the retirement of owners Dave and Diane Belcher.
Part of the grade two listed property, known as The Cottage, was subsequently refurbished and has been hired out to holidaymakers through AirBnB.
The couple has now secured permission from Somerset Council to convert the remaining buildings into houses, claiming that reopening the pub is not viable due to low patronage and rising costs.
The pub lies on the northern side of High Street near the eastern entrance to the village, a short walk from the primary school and St John the Evangelist Church.
The main pub buildings will be converted into three separate properties, with the existing holiday cottage being re-purposed as the fourth dwelling.
The Belchers (who have owned the property for more than 15 years) said that re-opening the pub was not financially possible and the development would be more in keeping with the village’s character than the various new-build estates which have cropped up in recent years.
They said: “Only six current residents of High Street used the pub until it closed in December 2024. We could no longer financially sustain the business.
“There is a car park and garden, but passing trade from the A30 was almost non-existent. This was not helped by the narrow pavements, meaning all advertising had to be on the building itself – too late for passing customers to see.
“In our village we have many new builds and they are not affordable or sympathetic to the village’s aesthetic.
“By converting the pub, we will not be changing the outlook of the High Street.
“Many of the few customers we had, have found the other establishments in the village to their liking.
“We tried everything to make this business work over the 15 years; we sold two homes to fund its upkeep and renovations.
“Just because something is old, doesn’t mean it can’t change for the better.”
Milborne Port has seen significant interest from housing developers in recent years, with Bovis Homes delivering 46 homes on The Hamlets estate on Gainsborough and Redcliffe Homes constructing 65 houses within the Gascoigne Park site on Station Road.
Somerset Council approved revised plans in March for 58 further homes on Wheathill Lane (along with allotments and a new car park for the nearby cemetery), and will shortly make a decision on plans for a further 32 homes on Court Lane.
Councillor Nicola Clark, whose Blackmoor Vale division includes the site, objected to the plans due to the limited community facilities remaining in the village.
She said: “The Tippling Philosopher has long served as a valued community asset, and has a history spanning several centuries as a public house.
“Until its recent closure, it was one of only two remaining pubs serving Milborne Port.
“In a settlement of approximately 3,000 residents, the loss of this facility would result in a significant reduction in local provision (especially while we are simultaneously having more and more houses built).
“I am not satisfied that sufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate that all reasonable steps have been taken to retain the property as a public house.
“Given its prominent location on the A30, together with its associated garden and catering facilities, it has not been convincingly demonstrated that the site is unviable as a public house capable of serving both the local community and passing trade.
“I personally regularly used the pub and the associated community market and so saw the impact it made as it provided an accessible and informal space for residents to meet, socialise and support local producers.
“We have seen time and time again that this type of provision is not easily replaced.”
The council approved the plans through the delegated powers of its planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee south (which handles major applications within the former South Somerset area).
Senior planning officer Stanley Norris said in his written report: “Notwithstanding the local concerns, the proposed development is considered to be acceptable in principle and will cause no demonstrable harm to residential amenity, visual amenity, highway safety, biodiversity or other environmental concerns.”