Closed town pub could become flats

The Duke of Edinburgh pub closed in 2022

A landmark pub which closed last year could become flats unless someone takes it on.

The Duke of Edinburgh pub in Gorse Hill, Swindon, closed last year when the landlord and lady's tenancy came to an end.

Owner Arkell's brewery was set, at the time, to shut the pub's doors for good, and then later put the 150-year-old building up for sale.

The brewery has applied for planning permission to transform the pub itself into three flats and restore a former house on the side of the building back to a house.

'Impossible' to find tenants

Its application includes a letter from commercial property agents Whitmarsh Lockhart saying it has been impossible to find new tenants or pub buyers for the Cricklade Road site.

The letter states: "Whilst the pub has remained on the market for letting via Arkells' website, with no suitable enquires having been received, we were asked to discreetly market the property for sale.

"Arkell's have let the living accommodation in the pub to several Ukrainian families via the local church since early May 2022."

According to the planning application, the house at the side would revert a two-storey, two-bed house, with the pub itself hosting a two-bed apartment - with large kitchens and separate living rooms - on each of three floors.

The building behind the pub would be demolished - and then at the back of the car park a two-storey building holding four two bed flats, this time with combined kitchen/diner/living rooms would be built.