The Roebuck Pub, Newall-with-Clifton, nr Otley, North Yorkshire

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Project overview / Project Value:

Complete refurbishment of existing country pub, including large extension and sun terrace / £315,000 approx

Services provided / local authority:

Architectural, interior design & project management services / Harrogate Borough Council

Project brief:

Building work has recently commenced on a large extension and complete refurbishment of this existing country pub which sits just inside the North Yorkshire boundary, around a mile north of the market town of Otley. Although the property has a Leeds postcode, it actually falls under the jurisdiction of Harrogate Borough Council.

Our client purchased the pub from a major brewery whilst it was closed and in a state of disrepair. The vision of the client was to transform this small pub, which is located within a sizable plot, into a leading food destination pub within the local area. The site is situated on the northern side of the Wharfe Valley, within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which enjoys stunning views to the South-West towards Ilkley moor, and once work has been completed, a large garden-room extension and sun terrace will make the most of these views.

We were initially appointed to provide architectural and interior design services for this project, and our first task was in obtaining planning permission for the works through Harrogate Borough Council. This proved to be something of a challenge, due to the site being in an AONB and part of Harrogate Council’s Green belt. We were required to provide a huge amount of supplementary information in order to obtain planning permission, which was eventually awarded in front of a planning committee. Our detailed plans for the extension & refurbishment won huge local support, not least from the parish council, and the local Liberal Democrat MP, who were instrumental in helping us to achieve the planning consent at the first time of asking.

Along with a large stone-built garden room (featuring roof windows, numerous French doors accessing the sun terrace and exposed reclaimed timber trusses) and the sun-terrace itself, the existing pub will be completely refurbished. Tired looking Georgian windows will be replaced with timber sliding-sash windows featuring central stone mullions, a new window seat will be incorporated into the front elevation, and an unsightly flat-roof front extension will be replaced by a beautiful reclaimed timber porch. Internally the existing bar will be removed and replaced with a large traditional dark oak bar, exposed brick and stone walls will be in abundance, and the floors will be covered with a mish-mash of reclaimed stone, solid oak boards and traditional carpet.

The client has decided to change the name of the pub, from “The Spite”, back to its former, more welcoming name of “The Roebuck”, and the venue is due to be open for spring 2012. Working with this client has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and much research was carried out along the way in the form of numerous pub-lunches at many great country pubs in the area!

Following our appointment to provide architectural and interior design services, we are now overseeing the building works, and we are very much looking forward to adding “as-built” photographs in the spring of 2012…..