Is it “Time” for an historic pub?

The Kingsbridge Inn – a national treasure which should be preserved as a pub at all costs – or a boozer whose time has come and gone?

Campaigners want to see it returned to the lively drinking spot it once was. They include a former landlord Martyn Canevali and Geetie Singh-Watson, the current owner of The Bull just a short stroll away. But the owner, Andrew Agar, has told the South Hams planners that he’s been renting it out as a private house since 2017.

Pubs are protected under planning law as community facilities, so to have a chance to change their use they have to be closed for four years and lived in continuously for that time.
So it seems , because it’s been lived in for more than four years, there are the grounds to prove it meets the condition to grant a certificate of lawfulness (in the jargon) to change the building’s use permanently.
However, South Hams planners designated the pub as an asset of community value , a designation which lasts until 2028. So will they be torn when they come to make the decision? Which, I’m told, is likely to be next month. The current tenants are Tracie and Patrick Gillies and their family, and many of the 53 supporters who wrote to SHDC point out her valued role in the Totnes community, running events.
Matthew Oakley wrote: “I completely support this becoming residential. The Gillies have complete respect for the building, its history and its significance. This has been their home for a long time and they deserve to have full use of this space. They alone are a massive asset to the town and are being pushed out for a ridiculous reason that people want the place to be a pub that is destined to fail. “ Mr Gillies is known for his involvement in the Fastglobe plans to develop the old Dairy Crest site which was sold at the last minute to that Essex company rather than to the developers of the Atmos scheme. (see Pulse articles)

Rowland O’Connor wrote: “A part of the community is sore (I think understandably) that they lost the Atmos scheme. Many of them blame the man listed on the application. I believe if it was anyone else, there would be many less comments in opposition to this proposal.”

There are 30 objections in the planning portal on SHDC website. However the main reason for objecting to closing the doors on the pub for ever is its historic value as one of the oldest pubs in the town, and its cultural value to the life of Totnes. It’s also felt that the Inn could be a viable business if it was given a chance.

Geetie Singh-Watson said: ”I own the Bull Inn on Rotherfold Square, just around the corner from the Kingsbridge. I do not regard another pub as a threat to my trade. I believe we should protect these buildings of history on our street corners from people wanting to privately profit from converting them to residential.
I have been in this industry for 25 years, leasing and buying pubs, always keeping their names and character to preserve them.
If this was put on the market at its genuine value, I would consider buying it. I could potentially create more bedrooms and a different offer for food.
Don’t let another pub get lost to society. This is our history, our culture. We are loosing 500 a year at the moment, never to be recovered. “

Jon Hillier wrote: “I also understand there have been real expressions of interest in running the pub. In making your decision, please ensure these were given enough opportunity to explore its potential as a viable business.
While I have no doubt that the applicants would want to preserve and enjoy this special building, turning it into a private home would change its character completely.
Once lost, a community asset like this can’t be easily brought back-and it sets a worrying precedent. So, in line with community interests and planning policies, I encourage you to refuse this application. “

Marilyn Easton says in her letter of objection that her family tried to obtain the leasehold but the deal fell through. “After thinking about the whole business, and with advice from CAMRA we decided to try for an ACV for Kingsbridge Inn. We opened a Facebook page to save the Inn and had over 300 people sign a petition to save the Kingsbridge Inn.
An Asset of community value was obtained in 2023, with the intention of opening it as a community pub.
The Kingsbridge Inn is a grade II listed building and Totnes should be protecting their heritage sites. It is undoubtably the oldest pub in Totnes and would be a great community advantage to the town. We have enough unaffordable houses for outsiders in this area, lets keep something of great value to local people open for local people.”

Martyn Canevali, who ran the pub from 1989 to 1995, said the Grade 2 listed building is a hidden gem and “very much part of Totnes’ heritage, heart and soul.” He continues:
“The reality is that SHDC has a serious Duty of Care, to properly look after buildings such as this in their domain, ensuring their access, availability and ongoing future, not only for us, but future generations too. “

Pubs in Totnes have closed – The Globe at the bottom of Castle Hill and The Smugglers Inn by the river are two I remember. One is now a home and the other is a vet’s surgery. The Queen’s Arms in Dartington is also now a private house.
I asked Tracie Gillies if she wanted to comment but she said she’d rather wait for the outcome and then decide if she wanted to say anything publicly.