A PLAN has been proposed to demolish an unoccupied pub in Weyhill and convert it into nine houses.

The Weyhill Fair pub, an 18th-century classic country pub near Andover – built on the site of the original Weyhill Country Fair, last closed operations in January 2023.

It was vacated in October 2023 and has remained unoccupied since then.

The pub is owned by Fuller Smith & Turner plc.

READ MORE: Landlady devastated as pub forced to close due to 'ridiculous' energy prices

Wessex Planning Ltd has now submitted a planning application on behalf of Rivendale Developments Ltd to demolish the public house and flat and build nine dwellings and a car port on the site in Weyhill Road.

In the plans, the applicant has said there has been no interest in the pub despite extensive marketing for approximately 10 months.

There are extensive grounds around the large detached public house including a beer garden and car parking for around 23 vehicles.

The site extends to 1.091 acres.

The pub is arranged over the basement, ground, and first floors.

The first floor provides the owner's living accommodation comprising two bedrooms and the beer cellar is in the basement.

It was last taken over by Claire and Karl Revius in 2019 on a six-year tenancy. Sadly, Karl died in December of that year.

Claire had since been managing the pub alone. However, she was forced to close it in January 2023 due to “ridiculous” energy price hikes and a “catastrophic” drop in turnover.

At the time of closure, she told the Advertiser that she was really sad to leave her beloved pub, but she had no option.

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The pub is neither listed nor in a conservation area, but the position of the existing pub building located hard up along the road frontage is of some historic value.

The planning application says it seeks to replicate the existing active frontage of The Weyhill Fair public house, with a terrace of three homes to the eastern side of the access point, and two detached homes to the western side.

Behind this frontage development, on the former pub car park, four detached houses are proposed.