PA23/09885: A café in Bude could become the site for an expanded micro brewery under plans submitted to Cornwall Council. 

Presently, the Barrel at Bude operates from the neighbouring property on 36 Lansdown Road in the town, and is seeking to expand by changing the use of the café next door by virtue of internal alterations to link the two properties together. 

The brewery located at number 36 serves Cornish beers and ciders, along with a selection of other Cornish alcohol, including wine. 

While the application covers both floors of 34 Lansdown Road, the plans initially are set to cover the ground floor only. 

The application to Cornwall Council was made by The Barrel at Bude Ltd.

The applicants told Cornwall Council: “The proposal is the change of use from the current use as a cafe unit [A3Use] to a Micropub [sui generis] — [extension to existing Micropub at 36 Lansdown Road] — 34 Lansdown Road, Bude EX23 8BN.

“The Micropub concept is relatively new — they operate as a drinking establishment, tend to be small scale and serve mainly locally produced real cask ales and ciders

“The existing Micropub at 36 Lansdown Road is called ‘The Barrel at Bude’ and sells mainly Cornish Beers and Ciders, together with a selection of Cornish and other wines. There are also ‘off sales’ of Cornish Ale and Cider.

“The application covers the two floors of 34 Lansdown Road but is intended at this time to just operate on the ground floor — providing much needed additional floorspace.

“The only internal change to effect the change of use and link to 36 Lansdown Road is to provide internal access by removing a ground floor wall between the premises.

“The site is located within the town centre of Bude [primary shopping area] but not within a primary retail frontage as identified in P13 Bude CAN. 

“The proposed use should therefore be acceptable as a sustainable town centre use, improving the offer to tourism and supporting the vitality of the town centre.

“The site is located at the eastern end of Lansdown Road, just off the junction of Queen Street and Lansdown Road. The proposed use will not affect the setting of the building.

The site is within the Bude Conservation Area. The proposal will have no impact on the Conservation Area — no external changes to the property are proposed. There are no design or landscaping considerations — with access to the site directly off the pavement in Lansdown Road. There are no external elevation changes proposed.

“The site is effectively a town centre site with multiple means of access

“The scale and nature of the proposal, given the existing use, is unlikely to impact on the way patrons presently access the site

“There are bus stops in the town centre, car parks nearby and easy foot/cycle access to the premises.”

The application is currently under consideration by Cornwall Council.