19th November 2009

Celebrations last week following the meeting of the Planning Committee! Getting planning permission is an important milestone. Now we have to draw up contracts for the construction work and start to think about the The Bell's interior design. It'll be a while before we can actually start work but we hope that Ticehurst will have its pub back by the end of 2010.

Well, our application has been submitted! When it’s been officially registered by Rother DC we’ll include a link to their website, so that you can see it for yourself. In the meantime, there’s lots in the news about the number of local pubs that are failing – 52 a week, apparently! We’re sure it’s a matter of getting the ‘mix’ right …. good food, good beer and good facilities (including some high quality accommodation) and of course good service. All key ingredients for the future of The Bell!

A big thank you to everyone who came to our open days to see the plans we have for the Bell. We had more than 380 people through the door over the 3 days, some of the hottest of the year. It was great to meet so many people who we hope one day will become our regulars. The overwhelming response to our plans was very positive, with everyone eager to see the pub reopen as soon as possible. We now have to go through all the comment forms and consider them in light of our proposals so that any changes can be made before we submit the planning application. Hopefully this will be in the next couple of weeks, but I will keep you updated!

So, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, up to 650 country pubs could close in the next year. They blame declining rural communities and a bad economy, but I think it’s got more to do with how little effort is put into making many local pubs a good place to spend time (and money!).

A local pub should be a home from home. The Bell has certainly been that in the past, when Pam was in charge, and this is what Lindsey and I would like it to be in the future. Not a place where you get a plate of mediocre ham and eggs, with surly service thrown in but a truly beautiful, local pub serving good food, where people can meet up and have a good time.

The first step is to secure the support of the community and the planning authority for the painstakingly crafted, conservation-led planning application we plan to submit this summer. Come along to see the plans at one of our community drop-ins, or use this blog to tell me what you think makes for a brilliant local pub.

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