Church plan to revive Langport pub

By [dnichols]

CHURCH leaders have taken over one of Langport's oldest public houses – and are considering allowing it to sell alcohol again.

A charitable trust, responsible for churches in the Langport district, has bought the Old Custom House Inn in Bow Street which has been empty for around nine months.

The deal for the grade-two listed building was signed on Monday 2 March for less than £200,000. The Rev Hugh Ellis, team rector, said he was excited about the project.

He admits details have not been finalised, but said the building would be used to benefit the whole community. It was hoped to provide a meeting place for youngsters out of school hours with a quiet room for study and prayer.

The name is to revert to The Angel, which was the pub's name until 1975.

Finance for the project will be gained through various grants, the sale of St Mary's Hall in Wincanton Road and a loan from the diocese.

The hall comes under a Charity Commission scheme formed to enable education in the Christian faith. It will be up to the church to ensure that something in the Old Custom House fulfils that purpose.

Although the development will see another of the town's traditional watering holes disappear, Mr Ellis has not ruled out renewing the property's alcohol licence.

He said: "Indisputably there will be concern over the loss of a pub – but we want to keep the concept of a pub because they form a useful function.

"We have a role to educate in the wider community and it was decided that we should not be stuck in our churches but be out there in the community.

"I think the church can still play a part in the community and at the moment there is a sense of excitement about the potential mixed with a huge sense of responsibility.

"The basic idea is to involve the community and see the response we get. It will depend on volunteers working together for the common good."

The property, which includes two main bar areas, a kitchen, three-bedroom apartment, large function room, toilets, store rooms and garden, is in need of a major refurbishment.

It could take up to three years for the project to be finished and is the brainchild of Mr Ellis and St Mary's churchwarden Clive Sillis.

They plan to open a Christian resource outlet selling books, DVDs, cards and jewellery and are looking at having an Internet cafe in the future.

Church members met community leaders on Monday to unveil their intentions. Planning permission and grants have yet to be secured.

Town council chairman Chris Osborne said: "It is early days and they will have a big task to get it up together as a lot of work will need to be done. I expect that if they apply for change of use, there will be objections to another pub going, but I wish them luck."

In November last year The Black Swan in North Street reopened as Lou Lou's Wine Bar and Restaurant after being closed for five months, and outline planning permission has been granted to demolish the White Lion along with a former newsagents, and replace it with a cafe/bistro and 24 homes.

The Langport Arms Hotel is the town's other surviving hostelry.