A listed Vernham Dean pub could soon be making its own pints after submitting plans to build a brewery on site.

Landlord Reece Garner has applied for permission for The George Inn, located on Bulpits Hill, to build a brewery at the front of the pub, as well as an extension to the kitchen at the back. He says that the plans are “vital” to the pub’s future.

He said: “It is vital that our income increases further to make the pub sustainable in the long term, and to be frank, to ensure that we, as the current publicans, remain running The George Inn.

“In the time the pub has been independent, the turnover has approximately trebled. However, as we are all aware, costs over that time have also increased dramatically, and the only way to make the pub viable in the long term is to ensure new revenue streams.”

The George Inn was constructed in the 17th century, and was originally a thatched pub. It has been rebuilt a number of times, and in the 1930s, this saw the thatched roof removed and replaced with tiles. The pub’s heritage has been recognised with a Grade II listing by Heritage England.

The pub had been brewery owned, but became independent under the Haighs in 2010 before being bought by the Garners in 2017. It has persevered through the pandemic, offering “free hot meals to villagers that fell on hard times during the crisis”.

While the previous owners had plans to build rooms to let behind the pub, for which permission was granted in 2012, Reece instead wants to expand the pub’s food and drink offering to bring in new revenue.

The planned brewery will be built on the site of a former barn in front of the pub, with oak cladding and weathered roof tiles to ‘respect, complement and preserve the character of the area.’ Meanwhile, the kitchen will be added to the rear and rendered to match the existing kitchen.

Reece says that the brewery will operate two days a week, and will add around £500 a week to the pub’s revenue, making use of his experience as a brewer before becoming a publican. The kitchen, once expanded, will have room for a larger wood-fired pizza oven, grill and smoker, to expand the pub’s food offerings. It is predicted seven jobs will be created if the expansion is approved.

The plans are currently under consideration by TVBC planning officers, who will decide on the application in due course. If you would like to have your say, search TVBC’s planning portal with the reference 21/02382/FULLN