Blow for Ritz regulars as bar disappears from latest plans

Thursday 19th March 2009, 2:32PM GMT.

ST SAVIOUR’S Tavern should return to its former use, according to its patrons.

New planning proposals have been put forward that will see the former pub – known ironically to its regulars as The Ritz – turned completely into housing.

The pub was bought by Lapwing, a company owned by Tom Scott, which has submitted two planning applications. The original one saw the downstairs returning to its former use as a bar.

But plans put forward earlier this month are for just three residential units.

Corinne Connolly, who represented the former regulars, was disappointed to see the new proposals.

‘There are several who would welcome the chance to return and support a bar at St Saviour’s Tavern,’ she said.

‘There is currently no pub in the parish, but most of us still manage to meet up on a regular basis at a bar just across the border.

‘The Tavern is a lovely character building with a deep and varied history and, if developed in the right way, could offer a little piece of old Guernsey charm, which is sadly lacking in some of the public houses today.’

Architect Peter Falla said that he was just putting forward ideas and that the final decision would be made by Lapwing.

‘What we are doing for the client is to give them more options,’ he said.

‘It’s quite a difficult time for out of town pubs. In the UK about 20 a day are closing.

‘We haven’t really made up our minds what we want to do with the building. These planning applications are just one solution. We have to have the manoeuvrability if we can get the investment to do the pub. In this climate that would seem to be quite a difficult route to go.

‘It’s simply a case of we want to get as many options for the site as we can.

‘The recent one is probably the most suitable at the moment.’

Mrs Connolly disputed that, saying that the island did not have a pub on every corner like the UK. Falling numbers of people going to pubs was partly due to the fact that not everyone wanted to sit in a dining area, she said.

nÊThe pub closed on 8 September 2007. Mr Scott had purchased it the previous month for £285,200.

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1
Valdubon

March 20, 2009 at 12:13 am

Amenities such as local pubs provide a centre of meeting and interaction, and so help to provide that social cohesion that maintains a strong and stable society, which itself underpins our existence including the support of business. I understand the business perspective of the requirement for profit, return and shareholder value but there is also the social perspective. Businesses that involve themselves with public amenities need to have a responsibility to society for the provision of those amenities as well as to their shareholders.

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2
Devils Advocate

March 20, 2009 at 11:29 pm

GP 18th August 2007 – The Tavern recently changed hands for just £285,200 – less than the average cost of a local market house.

Businessman and owner Tom Scott warned last week that there might be a temporary closure.

‘We are building a better pub and restaurant there,’ he said.

DO YOU TRUST THIS MAN!!!

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