Pub of more than 200 years set be become homes

The Royal Hotel closed in February 2024

A village pub which closed last year is set to be converted into two homes, despite attempts to save it.

The 212-year-old Royal Hotel on Main Road in Dungworth – located in Sheffield's Loxley Valley – shut in February 2024, with its co-owner citing a fall in customers.

An application to convert the building into a three-bedroom house along with a one-bedroom bungalow on the grounds has been recommended for approval by council officers, and will be decided at a meeting on Tuesday.

A report published ahead of the meeting said: "It is clear to officers that the demand for the public house is below that [which] can be reasonably viewed to be sustainable or viable."

'Lack of demand'

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the pub was well known locally for hosting community 'sings' of traditional north Sheffield carols.

A Save the Royal campaign, backed by city-based folk music star Jon Boden, tried to raise the money to set up a community interest company to buy the venue.

The 34 objections to the planning application include support for retaining the Royal as a village pub and community hub.

The venue lies in the green belt, within an officially-designated area of high landscape value next to the Peak District.

The report acknowledged the "high number of objections", but added: "From the evidence submitted there is an apparent lack of demand for the drinking facility."

"There are also alternative facilities elsewhere within the wider locality that can satisfactorily meet the needs that the Royal Hotel once offered within the village."

The upper floor of the pub is set to remain as a separate flat and is not part of the planning application.

Neither is Ings Cottage, which is historically associated with the Royal.

Separate gardens would be created for each of the three homes.