PLANS have been submitted to transform a prominent Cotswolds roadside pub after it closed suddenly last year.
New owner of Foston’s Ash Inn near Camp - Will Lloyd-Baker - has recently submitted a planning application to Stroud District Council.
Plans include building an extension, creating a new outdoor eating area as well as internal alterations to the bar area in the 19th century pub.
The application - which was submitted on March 23 - comes after the pub unexpectedly shut down in December last year.
The Grade II listed pub is on a key route on the B4070 Calf Way on the way to Birdlip and the Air Balloon roundabout between Gloucester, Cirencester and Stroud.
Under the plans, the pub’s L-shaped bar is set to be replaced with a new curved shaped bar constructed from ash, to reflect the history of the inn.
Meanwhile, a new open timber pergola has been proposed to create a new alfresco covered seating area.
Other plans include reducing the number of parking spaces from 38 to 28 and replacing the pub's iconic sign with a redesigned new one.
A council document reads: “The applicant is intending to refresh and enhance the existing business whilst also protecting the established features of the listed building.
“The applicant has made a commitment to deliver a high quality scheme reflective of the traditional and historic nature of the building and wishes to demonstrate to both the community and local authority how this will be achieved.”
“The works will maintain the significance of the property and its relationship to the road as well allowing for the business to be updated and the reopening of this popular venue.
“The present scheme seeks to improve the facilities to enable better service for customers, the ability to serve directly to the garden rather than the present convoluted route through the building and improve the bar area.”
“These are changes which seek to create the ability for the landlord to provide better service to the customers and allow those customers to regain use of the bar which is currently limited as well as be served directly from the kitchen when using the gardens.
The Fostons Ash Inn, is believed to have been named after a former turnpike keeper and was built around 1800 first opening as a coaching inn.
The name appears to relate to a character called Foston who refused to pay the toll and would jump the tollgate, which was made of ash.
It’s currently unclear the pub's proposed hours of use or when the pub might reopen.
You can view or comment on the application by quoting reference S.23/0621/FUL.
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