D-Day in fight to save 210-year-old pub near Withernsea from being turned into housing

Residents of Holmpton village outside the George and Dragon pub Picture: Gary Longbottom

Around 20 objections have been raised over plans to convert the George and Dragon, the only hostelry in the East Riding village of Holmpton, into two apartments, a house and a cottage, while keeping part of the ground floor as a pub.

Holmpton Parish Council voted in favour, but 22 residents objected to the application by former landlord Charles Brokenbrow.

The latest plans came just months after a previous application to turn the pub, three miles from Withernsea, into a single house was turned down by a Government Inspector on appeal.

The George and Dragon - once a Bethel for shipwreck survivors

One objector to the new proposals, being discussed on Monday, cited its long history and its importance to the village’s identity.

Known first as the The Man’s Head or The Board, by 1840 it was The George, before later becoming the George and Dragon.

Its role as a Bethel where shipwreck survivors could recover saved it from closure in 1926, when a staunch Methodist wanted it closed for reasons of propriety.

Hugh Reid, a regular until the pub closed in 2017, said since the plans had been refused by Inspector John Dowsett, the pub had not been actively marketed at all.

He claimed two prospective buyers who had wanted it at “a fair price” had been turned away.

Mr Reid said locals were hopeful it would remain open.

He added: “It is where everyone in the village gets to know each other. Sociability has fallen by the wayside since the pub has shut.”

However five letters of support were also been sent arguing that it is no longer feasible expecting such a small village to support such a large pub, and that three sets of people “tried and failed over 11 years to make a success of the business”.

But planners say the changes will cut the floorspace dedicated to the pub from 260sqm to 105sqm and are recommending refusal.

They state: “There are concerns that the significantly reduced floor area for the community facility would make it too small to be feasible and workable as a going concern and would therefore be unable to meet the needs of residents and visitors.

“This could lead to the loss this facility within the village, which is the only remaining public house in the village.”