Six-pack of flats planned for former beerhouse

Thursday 23 August 2018

A pub that took last orders just over a year ago could make way for a six-pack of flats, if plans from a local entrepreneur are approved.

Tamba Park owner Jonathan Ruff wants to turn the former Devonshire Bars, which closed after years of struggles, into five two-bedroom flats and one one-bedroom flat.

Randalls gave up the lease for the St. Aubin's Road pub after a steady decline in business over 10 years. In the final two, it had been unable to run as a profitable business at all, and so it closed just over a year ago.

In a letter attached to Mr Ruff's Planning Application, David Le Quesne, Property Director at Randalls Limited, cited the "total lack of mid-week and latterly week end trade" at the pub as the main reason for giving up the lease. "The unit after costs was running at a loss," Mr Le Quesne said, adding that the previous manager had retired almost two years ago. The wife of the Earl Grey Pub's landlord, which is on the opposite of the road, was then registered as manager for the Devonshire.

"Even with limited opening hours and a one person operation, the outlet continued to lose money, hence we took the decision to ask if we could surrender the lease," Mr Le Quesne explained.

Local entrepreneur Jonathan Ruff bought the building, which was built in 1991 by development company C. Le Masurier Ltd,  as a purpose-built bar, function room and staff accommodation. He is hoping to transform the 293msq space, which comes with a basement, a ground floor and two superior floors, into a residential unit.

He told Express: "The previous owner had plans to transform the pub but the plans were withdrawn. I bought it and submitted my own plans.

"It cannot stay a pub, as there is one across the road. There is no outside space and not a lot of parking available around. There is already a nursery and a care home in the area so there is a limited use you can make of the space. The building is quite spacious so I thought it was perfect for flats."

Elliott Design Partnership, who designed the scheme, said in a statement explaining their plans that Mr Ruff was keen to try and re-use the building rather that demolish it. "With the site existing size, shape and fenestration, re-purposing the building into flat seemed a logical situation," they noted.

Pictured: Jonathan Ruff said limited use could be made of the Devonshire Bars building.

Proposals submitted to the Planning Department show that the five two-bedroom units would measure between 72msq and 105msq, while the one-bedroom unit would measure just over 49msq. The basement store will be used to provide dedicated private storage to each unit and, where possible, Juliet balconies will be added to increase the amenities available. One flat will even feature a large outdoor terrace.

The design statement noted: "The proposed development address the high density solution, with five of the six dwellings provided in excess of current minimum housing standards."

The architects added that the development proposes "high quality design to improve the architectural fabric of the building and in turn improving the look of the area." The conversion would also remove the Public House, "reducing the noise, traffic and air pollution (from the kitchen extract) from the close surrounding residential areas."

The existing car park will be extended and redesigned to provide on site parking, with two spaces available for each two-bed flats and one space for the one-bedroom flats.

Pictured: Elliott Design Partnership came up with a "high quality design to improve the architectural fabric of the building."

The architects noted: "Continuing to run this property as a commercial premise would only end in the property remaining vacant.

"The client seeks to diversify the use into residential, revitalise a currently disused building into a building that enhances appearance and make best use of the land in its surroundings."