‘NEARLY 500 years of history’ could be wiped out under a plan which could breathe new life in to a former town centre pub.

The George Hotel, also known as The George Inn, is believed to date back to 1586 but has been closed down for at least five years.

But now the pub’s owner Faucet Inn Limited has submitted a plan to change the building’s ground floor use from a public house to four multiple-use units, including retail, financial services and a restaurant, café or takeaway.

While the current application has yet to receive any formal consultation feedback, North West Hampshire Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) pubs officer John Buckley told The Advertiser he thought it would be a loss of history if the plans get the go-ahead due to there being no pub provision included at the Grade II-listed building in George Yard.

Mr Buckley said: “The historic George had suffered a chequered history with a lack of investment under the previous PubCo ownership, and was allowed to fall into disrepair.

“To lose all of the premises from pub use would remove nearly 500 years of history.

“While small micro-pubs and craft bars open in competing towns, Andover remains lacking the vibrancy these bring to high streets and while retail use is understandable for most of the building, incorporation of such a small licensed unit would benefit the town.”

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) economic development and tourism portfolio holder Councillor David Drew said the proposals could provide new business opportunities in the town centre.

He said: “Test Valley Borough Council welcomes ideas that could enhance the local economy. The proposals submitted by the George Hotel would provide new opportunities for small businesses in the town centre.

“Of course - the application will progress through the statutory planning process and is currently open to comments from the public.”

The proposed development could see ten full-time and ten part-time employees taken on if the plans are approved.

The external look of the building would not change significantly under the plan.

Faucet Inn Limited has already refurbished the upper floors to residential units and stripped out the pub furniture under previous planning applications.

The company was contacted for comment but did not respond by the time the Advertiser went to print.

However, a statement submitted with the application reads: “The pub has been advertised in the trade for a number of years without anyone making an offer to take on the premises. The main problem seems to be that no one is willing to take on the established local competition which is Wetherspoon’s, The Redbridge and The Globe Inn.

“Accordingly, the owners wish to look for alternative uses in the forms of other retail uses.”

A recent application to change the use of a still-operating Overton pub, the Red Lion, into a four-bedroom house, submitted by the pub’s independent owners, was refused last month by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on the grounds its business was still viable and there was still demand for a pub in the area.

The application is due to be decided on by TVBC by 16 February

To view and comment on the plan, go to testvalley.gov.uk/planning-and-building/viewplanningapplicationsonline and search using the reference 17/03279/LBWN.