Village's only pub to be turned into a house

The Fox and Hounds pub dates back 300 years but closed in 2020 and no new owners have been found

A village's only pub will not reopen its doors despite pleas from some local residents.

The Fox and Hounds in Weasenham, near Fakenham, will be turned into a home after Breckland Council granted permission for its change of use.

The pub closed four years ago and a previous attempt to convert the building was turned down due to fears over the loss of a community facility.

The council, however, has now conceded that nobody is willing to take on the venue.

'Permanent loss'

The decision has been unpopular with some residents, who will now have to travel three miles to visit their nearest pub, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"There are no other services in the village and the permanent loss of the pub would be the nail in the coffin for any sense of community," Glynn Burrows, a resident who lives close to Weasenham.

"This is a village pub and is also on a main coast road, so could be a viable business again if it were to be run as such.

"The pub could easily be turned into a cafe, shop and bar, making it a real asset."

'New life'

The Fox and Hounds pub dates back 300 years but closed in 2020 following the death of landlord Danny Enifer.

Some residents wrote to the council in support of his widow, Carol Enifer, who applied to turn the building into a house.

Derek Wylde, from the village, said: “The pub only remained open because of the support given by the owners from their personal savings.

"High costs of energy and labour do not make running this type of business an attractive proposition - anyone who thinks this is viable does not appreciate the difficulties faced by rural pubs.

"Nobody wants to see a boarded-up pub in their village and the building is now much more likely to secure a buyer and be given a new lease of life."