A village’s only pub looks set to stay open in a smaller form after developers dropped controversial plans to turn the whole building into a house.
The Hare and Hounds in Northbourne, near Deal, closed in 2024 after “years of financial struggles” and had faced the threat of being converted into a home, sparking strong opposition from residents.
Now, a fresh planning application has been submitted which, if approved, will keep part of the building as a licensed premises.
The latest scheme comes after a previous bid to scrap the pub entirely was withdrawn last year following a strong backlash.
Under the new plans, the drinking area would be reduced to seat more than 30 customers inside, with extra space in a beer garden.
Developers say this smaller set-up could finally make the business sustainable, provided neighbours use it.
The redesign includes replacing “poor quality” rear extensions with a smaller flat-roofed section, adding a pitched-roof side extension, and cladding parts of the exterior in timber to match the conservation area.
The work would also create a new rear dormer and improve the building’s general condition.
It reportedly suffers from roof leaks, damp, and a lack of central heating.
Applicant Matthew Lawrence says the changes are needed to “secure a sustainable future” for the building, which has seen five landlords come and go over the last 12 years without turning a profit.
Architects Red House Design, the firm representing Mr Lawrence, states the pub has failed under five landlords due to high running costs and low trade.
Their revised plan keeps a smaller bar with space for over 30 customers plus a beer garden, which they argue will be more sustainable if supported by locals.
They say the scheme also includes renovations that will improve the building and enhance the surrounding conservation area.
The pub was previously owned by a group of residents trading as Glacups Ltd between 2012 and 2024.
The last tenants – who also run The Plough Inn at Ripple – say they poured more than £64,000 into the Hare and Hounds during their 18-month tenure before closing it in January 2024.
They said while villagers did use the pub, trade was not enough to make it viable.
It has since been marketed with estate agents Miles and Barr, but no offers have been received other than from those wanting to redevelop the site.
However, the revised plans have still been met with some backlash.
Northbourne resident Lynn Davis submitted an objection claiming the design of the new bar is “so small and unattractive” that it will deter use by the community.
She wrote: “This is presumably so that in the future the whole building can be changed to residential, as the owner has always wanted.”
The Hare and Hounds has been part of village life for centuries, first recorded as a public house in 1740 when it was known as The Horse and Hound.
Over the years, it has served as a hub for social gatherings, including as the birthplace of the Hare and Hounds Players amateur dramatics group.
Developers say the reduced pub space, paired with much-needed renovation and landscaping, will give the building a future that benefits both the business and the conservation area.
They also insist the scheme provides adequate parking – two spaces for the new three-bedroom home and five for pub staff and customers.
Dover District Council will make a decision on the application by the end of September.
