Plans to “refresh and revitalise” historic pub on Somerset coast path
Refurbishment scheme proposed for listed building on Quay Street
An historic pub on a popular Somerset coastal path will be extensively refurbished if new plans are given the go-ahead.
The Old Ship Aground lies on the South West Coast Path (part of the wider King Charles III England Coast Path), and has been a feature of Quay Street in Minehead since the 1880s.
Hall & Woodhouse, which operates the pub, has applied to make a wide range of changes to the grade two listed building, improving both its external appearance and its functionality.
Somerset Council is expected to make a decision by the end of the summer as to whether the changes can be implemented in full.
The pub is the closest building to Minehead Harbour and the last watering hole greeting people walking the coast path until they reach The Bottom Ship in Porlock Weir – a challenging nine miles away.
Under the proposals, the existing cellar will be extended with new doors and timber cladding, with a metal staircase being removed and new air conditioning units being fitted.
The entire pub will be repainted in a “more subtle and muted colour scheme”, with existing windows being redressed and doors being refurbished.
On the ground floor, the existing pub and hotel will retain its existing layout, but the bathrooms will receive new tiling and lighting, with new panels and flooring throughout the existing rooms.
The bar areas will be extensively revamped, with beer mats being removed from the existing beams and “relocated to the ceiling”.
New flooring will also be provided on the first and second floors, with new tiling in en-suite rooms and “acoustic underlay” to improve patrons’ experience.
A spokesperson for Planning Potential (representing Hall & Woodhouse) said: “The proposed changes are required in order to refresh and revitalise the pub.
“It is considered that proposed alterations would result in an overall improvement of the pub with regard to functionality and aesthetics.
“Some elements of the pub have fallen into poor condition and therefore require refurbishment. This includes window frames and ceilings.
“The internal refurbishment will also help to enhance customer satisfaction and experience. This is of particular relevance to the hotel rooms.
“Through an improvement in the hotel rooms, this will help to attract more visitors and help the pub and hotel to optimise revenue.
“The colour that have been selected will allow the pub to retain a distinctive identity, while taking into account the surrounding buildings and environment.
“The cellar extension is required in order to aid in the functionality of the pub, allowing it to optimise revenue.”
Minehead Town Council has given its support to the plans, noting that “an investment of this scale in a town public house, given its prominent location at the harbour, was to be welcomed”.
Somerset Council is expected to make a final decision on the proposals by the late-summer.