A LANDMARK Wareham hotel and pub that has fallen into disrepair is set to be scaled back – and parts of the building returned to housing use – if plans are approved.
A planning application has been submitted to Dorset Council that would see The Red Lion Hotel, in North Street, refurbished and redeveloped.
The scheme would see 1 North Street – now part of the Red Lion – returned to use as a house, while the former stables, West Street hotel extension and former meeting room will be subdivided into three separate residential properties.
Meanwhile, the yard and four parking spaces would be used by the new dwellings.
Both the Red Lion and 1 North Street are listed buildings, so require special permission, sought in the plans.
The Red Lion hotel in Wareham. Picture: Google
“The proposals will seek to revive the building and restore its functional use in order to avoid its further decline,” the application said.
“The task is broad and requires the commercial elements of the proposal be viable and sustainable.
“The previous commercial operations have been of a comparatively large scale for Wareham and the building has suffered from periodic business failures.”
How the proposed layout would work. Picture: Morgan Carey Architects/Dorset Council
It said the hotel has undergone “extensive renovation”, with “few historic fixtures and fittings of heritage value”.
“This application proposes to reduce the scale of the hotel and adapt the previous public house to a restaurant,” it went on.
“In order to provide a viable business model, the hotel offering will be reduced to four luxurious suites of accommodation, and the restaurant will be scaled back to around 40 covers.”
How proposed mews houses could look. Picture: Morgan Carey Architects/Dorset Council
Submitted by Morgan Carey Architects on behalf of George Treves, the plans said the reduction in the business operation would free up the space for residential conversions and allow some restoration of the historic layout.
For full details of the scheme, and to comment on the proposals, log on to www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search for application reference P/LBC/2023/07157.
The former bar area at the Red Lion in Wareham. Picture: Morgan Carey Architects/Dorset Council
It sounds like even more housing which will be bought up by non locals as it wouldn’t be priced for us. Shame that a huge venue being taken away from its locals.
I once ran this when it was a public house 20 years ago. I have never known such an horrific place for locals taking a dislike. I did go back and stay there as a member of the public when it was redeveloped a decade later. Let’s just say I am not surprised it did not last. Wareham is a truly strange town. Good luck to anyone who takes it on as the building is truly shocking too.
I once ran it too and returned to stay in the hotel for one night. I still have nightmares. I concur with everything you say.